Houston ISD Superintendent Facilitates $950,000 Deal Between Charter Network and Consultancy Linked to Former Associate
Houston Independent School District (HISD) Superintendent Mike Miles helped arrange a contract worth nearly $1 million between a Texas charter school network and a Colorado-based education consulting firm led by a longtime professional associate.
Records obtained by the Houston Chronicle reveal that Miles acted as an intermediary to broker a $950,000 agreement between International Leadership of Texas (IL Texas) and Education Partners. The deal was designed to implement elements of Miles’ “New Education System” (NES) reform model at struggling IL Texas campuses. The proposal, sent by Miles in July, offered the charter network free access to HISD curriculum and training provided personally by Miles, while Education Partners would handle the consulting services.
Connections to Third Future Schools
The arrangement has drawn scrutiny due to the leadership of Education Partners. The consulting firm is headed by Dwight Jones, who simultaneously serves as the corporate board president of Third Future Schools—the charter school network founded by Miles before his state appointment to lead HISD.
While the contract for consulting services was signed between IL Texas and Education Partners, emails indicate Miles played a central role in the negotiations. In correspondence with Edward Conger, the CEO of IL Texas, Miles presented a proposal representing “Education Partners and Mike Miles’ initial thoughts” on turning around specific campuses.
District and Superintendent Response
All parties involved in the transaction maintain that Miles received no financial compensation for his role in brokering the deal. A spokesperson for HISD stated that because the superintendent was not paid, he was not required to disclose the activity to the district’s state-appointed Board of Managers.
“Superintendent Miles is required to inform the HISD Board of Managers if he is compensated for work outside of the District,” the spokesperson said. “The Superintendent received no compensation from Education Partners or IL Texas, so there was nothing to report to the Board.”
Miles’ employment contract permits him to engage in outside activities such as advising or writing, provided they do not interfere with his duties or create a conflict of interest. However, governance experts suggest that facilitating high-value contracts for a firm led by a close professional associate could present ethical questions regarding potential conflicts of interest, regardless of direct compensation.
Background on Miles’ Tenure
Mike Miles was appointed superintendent of HISD in June 2023 by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) as part of a state takeover of the district, largely precipitated by chronic low performance at Wheatley High School and previous board misconduct. Since taking office, Miles has implemented the NES model, a rigorous and standardized instructional approach modeled after the systems used at Third Future Schools.
The NES model has sparked significant debate within the Houston community. Supporters point to preliminary data showing improved test scores at NES campuses, while critics argue the system is overly rigid and has led to high teacher turnover. In June 2025, the Board of Managers approved a five-year contract extension for Miles, citing academic gains under his leadership.
