DALLAS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO LEAD TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY

(AP) – A Dallas schools trustee and investment manager will lead the Texas Education Agency.

Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday appointed Mike Morath to oversee the state’s 1,200 school districts and charter schools.

Morath replaces Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams, who in October cited family reasons and said he would leave at year’s end. Williams led TEA since 2012 and served in state government more than 16 years.

Morath graduated from Garland High School and later taught computer science at his alma mater. Morath holds a bachelor’s degree from The George Washington University. He was elected to the Dallas Independent School District board in 2011.

Morath is chairman of Morath Investments. He recently served as president of Minute Menu Systems, providing information systems to help manage a federal child nutrition program.