Thursday morning brought news that Houston ISD Deputy Superintendent Kristen Hole is stepping down from her post. Her departure comes after a time of significant change at the school system, which included a major reworking of its special education program. That restructuring has drawn federal scrutiny.
In February of this year, Superintendent Mike Miles selected Hole for the deputy superintendent position. Before that, she had worked as the district’s chief academic officer, having joined shortly after Miles came aboard. Her background also features time at the Texas Education Agency prior to her arrival in Houston.
Hole is departing to join her family, who relocated out of state last spring. She has been making the trip back and forth since then. The district did not give a date for her final official day.
Hole’s Role in Special Education Overhaul
Hole’s tenure was defined by two major initiatives. She led the district’s new Future2School program, where students spend half of the day building skills that will prepare them for a world with artificial intelligence. That program was part of a broader push to reshape how the district delivers instruction.
Her most recognized achievement came in special education, and it arrived within a few months of her taking on the deputy role. That is when the district announced a major restructuring of its special education program.
The district consolidated some of its services onto specific campuses and moved hundreds of students to new locations. Those moves drew swift pushback from the public, which prompted both a federal investigation and a TEA investigation into Houston ISD’s special education program.
The Investigations
The TEA found the district in violation of the rights of students with disabilities in July, and it ordered corrective actions the district must complete by October.
“When her family relocated last spring, Kristen made the personal decision to continue traveling back and forth because she wanted to see the District through the start of the school year and ensure these important initiatives were successfully launched.”
Miles expressed his gratitude for Hole’s leadership and all the contributions she has made to the effort.
Milestones Under Hole’s Watch
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February | Hole appointed deputy superintendent by Miles |
| Last spring | Family moves out of state; Hole begins traveling back and forth |
| A few months later | Special education restructuring announced |
| July | TEA finds district in violation of student rights |
| Thursday | Hole announces resignation |
The Departure Wave
Orlando Riddick, who served as Chief of Strategic Initiatives, and Monica Zdrojewski, the Chief of Staff, have both recently departed. Hole is the third such high-profile exit from the district.
Each exit removes a senior figure from the system’s operations.
What Comes Next
The deadline for TEA corrective actions is still set for October, and the federal investigation is ongoing.
The special education program remains under scrutiny.
The Paper’s View
Clay Tribune maintains that the rights of students with disabilities must be preserved, and the district is currently under both a federal probe and an examination by TEA into its special education operations. The district should move forward with prompt and open action on the TEA’s corrective measures, and it should work together fully with the federal inquiry.
The investigations are ongoing.
The district has lost a key figure, and her exit brings to an end a difficult stretch of events. Throughout her time at the helm, special education restructuring stood as the central concern of her administration.
The Aftermath
Observers will keep a close eye on how the district answers the state’s TEA corrective actions.
The two initiatives that defined Hole’s time at Houston ISD are still around today. The Future2School program is still running, while the special education restructuring keeps drawing attention.
The district’s leadership layer is thinner now. The investigations remain unresolved.
That even a district operating under state control can change course fast through personnel moves is shown by Hole’s departure. Finding replacements who can manage the investigations and carry on the work Hole built will be essential for the district.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs neither the superintendent nor the deputy superintendent, and takes no side between them, but supports leaders who keep their promises and resist federal interference in local schools. The district faces an open federal investigation and a state finding of violation against students with disabilities, and the paper believes the district should answer those with prompt and open action.
Hole’s departure leaves the district without a senior leader who ran both the special education restructuring and the Future2School initiative. The investigations remain unresolved, and the district’s leadership layer is thinner now.
The paper wants the district to move forward with the state’s corrective measures without delay, and to cooperate fully with the federal inquiry. The public has already shown it watches closely how the district handles these matters.
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