Tyler, Texas – As governor‑elect Gina Hinojosa shifts her focus to education, she announced she will dismiss Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath on her first day in office and move to eliminate the Texas Education Freedom Accounts voucher program. The statements have drawn immediate reactions from local education leaders.
Local superintendents stress funding and teacher pay
Tyler Independent School District Superintendent Marty Crawford said his primary concern is ensuring adequate funding for schools. “I think the most important thing that we can talk about is funding,” Crawford told reporters. He added that attracting talent and improving academic outcomes depend on competitive teacher salaries and that he hopes the state retains the teacher incentive allotment.
Crawford also noted that any changes to the voucher program will require “political wrangling” in the upcoming legislative session, but emphasized that the district will keep families informed of any outcomes.
Former Rep. Travis Clardy calls for agency overhaul
Former state Rep. Travis Clardy, a lifelong Republican and personal friend of Morath, said the TEA has “been off course for a while now.” He criticized the agency’s push to advance the voucher program, describing it as a mission to “shove vouchers through the legislature, come hell or high water.”
Clardy, who supported a version of the voucher program with strict guardrails while in office, expressed concern over its expanding scope and the use of public education dollars for private schooling. “Taxpayer money should not pay for private school,” he said, noting that his own sons attended private schools and that he personally covered those costs.
He added that it is time to move away from the voucher program and focus on raising teacher pay.
Governor‑elect Hinojosa’s education agenda
Hinojosa, who won the gubernatorial race in November, framed her education plan as a response to what she called the “sale” of public schools. “The days of treating our public schools like they are for sale are over,” she declared at a press conference in Tyler.
In addition to proposing a new TEA commissioner, Hinojosa pledged to review the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program, which launched this year with a budget of roughly one billion dollars. She argued that the program should be re‑examined to ensure it does not divert public funds from the public school system.
What’s next for the voucher debate?
The TEA currently oversees about 1,200 school districts and nearly 5.5 million students. Morath has led the agency for a decade, and his removal would mark a significant shift in state education leadership.
State lawmakers are expected to reconvene in Austin in January, where they will weigh Hinojosa’s proposals alongside input from educators and community members. The outcome will shape the future of school funding, teacher compensation, and the role of private‑school vouchers in Texas.
For now, Tyler ISD officials say they will continue to prioritize the educational experience of their students, regardless of changes at the state level.
Original reporting: KLTV 7 Tyler (news) — read the source article.
