Superintendent Heath Morrison resigns from Montgomery ISD

Heath Morrison, the superintendent of Montgomery ISD since July 2020, announced his resignation in a July 12 news release. Morrison will go on to lead a national organization focused on addressing challenges to public education; specific details of his next role were not immediately available.

The gist

The board of trustees will hold a special meeting in July to discuss the leadership transition and timeline, according to the release. An agenda has been posted on the district's website for a special meeting at 7:30 p.m. July 14.

Morrison began his role in MISD as superintendent in July 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, helping enact a return-to-school plan that led to 95% of MISD students engaged in in-person learning by October 2020—being one of the first districts in the state to re-open for in-person learning, according to the release.

Since Morrison came aboard, the district has adopted a strategic plan in 2021, seen the passage of its $326 million bond package in May 2022, increased teacher salaries more than 14% since 2020 and added seven full-time police officers to the MISD Police Department, the release states.

“My time in Montgomery has truly been an amazing journey, and I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to serve as superintendent of this outstanding school district,” Morrison said in the release. “It was an extremely difficult decision, but I have been presented with an opportunity to lead an organization that is working to solve arguably the most serious challenge impacting education. As a servant leader, I felt called to consider this next step in my leadership journey.”

What they're saying

• “As a campus principal, I was always grateful for Dr. Morrison‘s focus on collaboration with employees,” said Shelby Smith, principal at Madeley Ranch Elementary School, in the release. “Throughout all my years here, I never felt more involved in major decision-making in our district, and it really had a positive impact on our workplace culture in MISD.”
• “Dr. Morrison joined our district during a very unique and challenging time in public education across the country,” said Trustee Trey Kirby, who joined the board in 2015, in the release. “His leadership during that time was a key part of MISD being

  one of the top districts in the state. We’re disappointed to see him leave, but grateful for his service and work to improve our school district and wish him well in his new position.”

• “We are extremely confident that our district will continue to experience success, in large part due to the amazing teachers in our district and the outstanding campus and district administrators Dr. Morrison has assembled to lead Montgomery ISD,” Board Vice President Nate Robb said in the release. “The positive impact he had on our district over the last three years will be felt for many years into the future.”