Mike Morath

Mike Morath serves as the top education official in Texas, leading the Texas Education Agency (TEA). He is currently newsworthy due to his involvement in the expansion of state takeovers of local public school districts, with the TEA having installed new leadership in eight districts since 2020, and four more this spring. Additionally, Morath has been involved in a pilot program for an artificial intelligence learning tool in Texas public schools. This initiative began about a year ago when Morath responded to an inquiry from associates of the private school chain Alpha School about using their AI program in Texas classrooms, with plans for a pilot in September 2025. His role highlights the TEA's active engagement in both administrative restructuring of struggling districts and the adoption of new educational technologies.