Reflecting on our inaugural regional education summit and the path forward for student economic mobility
On Friday, September 26, for the first time in the region’s history, superintendents from eight of our 11 largest school districts, higher education leaders, and philanthropic partners gathered in one room with a shared purpose: ensuring every Houston student graduates with real opportunities for economic mobility.
The inaugural Good Reason Houston Superintendent and Higher Education Leader Summit wasn’t just another meeting—it was a strategic planning session for Houston’s educational future, bringing together leaders who collectively serve nearly 700,000 students in one of the largest, most diverse metropolitan areas in the country.
The Challenge That Brought Us Together
The numbers tell a sobering story. While Houston celebrates an 88% high school graduation rate, only 20% of our public school graduates ultimately achieve living wage employment. This represents a massive opportunity gap that no single district, university, or organization can solve alone.
“For so long, the education system across the nation has been fractured between early education and K-12 education and the higher education system and the broader community,” said Meredith-Leigh Pleasants, Managing Director of District Partnerships and Business Development for Good Reason Houston. “Events like these are great opportunities to break silos, get people to build relationships and connect with each other to better understand how we can work together to really make a difference for kids.”
A North Star for Regional Transformation
The summit centered on Good Reason Houston’s bold North Star goal: doubling the rate of public school graduates earning a living wage by 2040. This isn’t just an aspiration—it’s a data-driven commitment backed by rigorous analysis of Houston’s economic landscape and educational pipeline.
Scott McClelland, founding board chair of Good Reason Houston and retired president of H-E-B, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the economic imperative behind educational collaboration. “The goal here is not only to create a better city with smarter kids that doesn’t have to import talent—that creates opportunity for all,” McClelland said. “That’s really what the business world needs, and frankly that’s just what the world needs, is better opportunity for all.”
The “Building Tomorrow’s Team” Framework
Rather than traditional conference sessions, we structured the day around collaborative strategy development using our “Building Tomorrow’s Team” framework—a sports metaphor that resonated powerfully with the competitive, goal-oriented leaders in the room.
Roster Analysis: Who’s on Our Starting Lineup?
Participants mapped regional strengths and identified critical gaps in our collective capacity. Districts shared successful programs, higher education leaders outlined pathway opportunities, and philanthropic partners highlighted resource availability. The conversation revealed both impressive assets and clear areas where coordination could amplify impact.
Teamwork Strategy: Making Our Players Work Together
The most energetic discussions centered on collaboration challenges and opportunities. Leaders identified concrete ways to improve student transitions between educational levels, align curriculum and expectations, and share best practices across district boundaries.
“Houston is so diverse, and when you’re looking at a district like Aldine versus my district, Deer Park ISD, it really doesn’t matter that hers is much larger or our demographics are different,” said Dr. Tiffany Regan, superintendent of Deer Park ISD. “When we looked at strengths and barriers, they’re common, and how we have to go about attacking them is something we can actually work on together as a team to try to cross through those barriers for our kids.”
Fanbase Engagement: How Community Can Support the Team
The final session focused on policy and community support recommendations. Participants developed specific proposals for lawmakers, business leaders, and community organizations to create conditions for student success.
Data-Driven Optimism
Throughout the day, Good Reason Houston shared regional education indicators spanning from pre-K enrollment through postsecondary completion. While the current 20% living wage attainment rate represents significant room for improvement, the data also revealed promising trends and successful models already working across the region.
Our waterfall analysis showed specific intervention points where coordinated action could have maximum impact. When leaders saw how their individual efforts connected to the broader pipeline, energy in the room shifted from concern to determination.
Immediate Next Steps
The summit concluded with concrete commitments. Several attendees agreed to follow-up meetings with Good Reason Houston to develop specific collaboration strategies. Many cross-district partnerships were initiated on the spot, and multiple higher education leaders committed to enhanced dual enrollment and transfer pathway development.
More importantly, participants left with a shared vocabulary and framework for ongoing coordination. The “Building Tomorrow’s Team” approach provides a common reference point for future collaboration across organizational boundaries.
Regional Leadership in Action
What struck us most was the quality of leadership in that room. These aren’t just administrators—they’re visionary educators who understand that student success requires systemic thinking and collaborative action. They arrived ready to move beyond territorial thinking toward shared accountability for regional outcomes.
“This is a truly powerful group that is deeply invested in kids today and impacting our children to a greater degree tomorrow,” said Dr. Kregg Cuellar, superintendent of Spring ISD. “What better way to learn from all the experts in the field, both in industry and higher education, as well as our public educators. This is an extremely valuable moment.”
The Path Forward
This summit marks the beginning, not the culmination, of Houston’s regional education transformation. Over the coming months, Good Reason Houston will work with summit participants to develop specific action plans, shared metrics, and collaborative initiatives.
We’re already planning quarterly regional leader convenings to maintain momentum and track progress. More importantly, we’re building the infrastructure for ongoing coordination that can outlast any individual leadership changes.
Why This Matters for Houston
Education isn’t just about individual student success—it’s about regional economic competitiveness and community vitality. When we align our education ecosystem around economic mobility, we strengthen Houston’s position as a global city and ensure opportunities exist for all residents.
The superintendents, college presidents, and philanthropic leaders who gathered at this summit represent more than institutional interests. They represent Houston’s commitment to ensuring every child—regardless of neighborhood, background, or starting point—has access to real opportunities for economic mobility.
This is how regional transformation happens: not through grand proclamations, but through committed leaders rolling up their sleeves and doing the collaborative work necessary to change systems.
Now that the summit is over, the real work is beginning. And after the energy we witnessed in that room, we’re optimistic about what Houston’s education team can accomplish together.
