August 13, 2007
Michele Pola announced today that she will step down from her post as Executive Director of The Houston A+ Challenge in order to take a key leadership role in Houston's public school system. Effective September 6, Pola will help guide districtwide improvement efforts from the inside, as Chief of Staff for Dr. Abelardo Saavedra, superintendent of the Houston Independent School District.
For the past 10 years, Michele has worked diligently to advance the mission and vision of the Houston A+ Challenge: an academically rich and purposeful education for all of Houston’s children.
As principal of River Oaks Elementary, Michele was a recipient of an original Annenberg grant that spotlighted schools with promising practices for whole-school reform. Coming aboard as Program Director from 1999 to 2004, Michele guided the development and launch of exemplary programs such as the ExxonMobil K-5 Math Initiative, the Teacher Externship program (sponsored by Shell Oil Company), and the annual Reach Out to Dropouts Walk with the City of Houston. During the past three years as Executive Director, she has firmly established Houston A+ Challenge as an authoritative voice for education reform and leadership development in the Houston region.
“Though we will certainly miss Michele’s leadership at Houston A+ Challenge, we are fortunate to have a remarkably talented staff led by a strong senior leadership team that will carry on the work,” said Joe B. Foster, chairman of the Houston A+ Challenge Board of Trustees and the founder of Newfield Exploration Company.
“This move will not affect Houston A+ Challenge’s plans to be a leader and facilitator in developing and providing a new principal leadership academy to develop outstanding leaders for high-need urban schools throughout the Houston region," Foster said. "Michele remains committed to this vision, and will continue to work diligently as a collaborator and facilitator between Houston ISD, Houston A+ Challenge, and our community and business partners.”
Associate Director Suzanne Sutherland has been appointed interim Executive Director during this transition. The Houston A+ Challenge Board of Trustees will launch a comprehensive search for a new Executive Director.
During Pola’s tenure (since 1999), The Houston A+ Challenge has:
- Raised more than $60 million from individuals, businesses and organizations – and invested it in programs and people to support reform efforts, promote student personalization and increase graduation rates in Houston, Humble, Aldine, Spring Branch and Alief ISDs.
- Coached more than 900 principals, assistant principals and teachers through leadership training and facilitation skills that help refocus adult conversations at schools on student learning.
- Empowered thousands of community members to raise their voices for a quality public education through town halls on the dropout rate, education funding reform, the future of No Child Left Behind and other important policy topics.
Before coming to Houston A+ Challenge, Pola served as a teacher, assistant principal and principal in Houston ISD for 20 years.
Pola is a board member for the nationwide Public Education Network, a member of the Texas Education Agency Mentor School Network, and a graduate of Harvard University’s Principals’ Institute and Change Leadership Institute, Texas A&M’s Principals’ Center, and the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Leadership Academy. She serves on two Greater Houston Partnership committees – the Education and Workforce Advisory and Strategic Planning. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Lesley College, a Master's in Science from University of Houston-Clear Lake, and a Doctorate in Education from NOVA Southeastern.
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