Morath takes office as Texas Commissioner of Education

 AUSTIN – Mike Morath was administered the oath of office today in Austin to become the new Commissioner of Education for the State of Texas.
Commissioner Morath was appointed to the position by Gov. Greg Abbott on Dec. 14, 2015. As Commissioner, he heads the Texas Education Agency (TEA), which oversees pre-kindergarten through high school education for approximately five million students enrolled in both traditional public schools and charter schools.
"I thank Gov. Abbott for the trust he has placed in me and look forward to working with him to continue strengthening our state’s public education system," said Commissioner Morath. "I am committed to ensuring that our education system provides all the children of Texas the opportunity to be successful in life."
Commissioner Morath previously served on the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) board of trustees for more than four years. A strong advocate of public education, Commissioner Morath graduated from Garland High School in the Garland Independent School District. Thanks to that great public school education, he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree, summa cum laude, from George Washington University in two-and one-half years.
Among his priorities, Commissioner Morath will focus on supporting educators throughout the state, transitioning the state’s accountability system to an A-F framework, and improving the overall efficiency of TEA.
Commissioner Morath succeeds outgoing Commissioner of Education Michael Williams. Williams served in the position for more than three years.

The Commissioner of Education is a gubernatorial appointment and serves at the pleasure of the Governor. Commissioner Morath’s appointment is subject to Senate confirmation during the next legislative session in 2017.

http://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/News_and_Multimedia/Press_Releases/2016/Morath_takes_office_as_Texas_Commissioner_of_Education/