As a proud graduate of Houston ISD, a former middle school teacher in the city, and someone with family still learning and working in Houston’s schools, the Good Reason Houston connectED 2025 convening was more than inspiring- it was personal.
Possip was honored to sponsor the event- but even more honored to witness more than 1,000 people come together with one shared mission: ensuring every Houston student has a path to opportunity and economic mobility.
The Moments at Good Reason Houston That Stuck With Me
There were two quotes that have replayed in my mind ever since:
Dr. LaTonya Goffney, Superintendent of Aldine ISD, reminded us,
“We’re not responsible for how our kids come to us, but we are responsible for how they leave us.”
And she added,
“When a community believes in its kids, transformation is possible.”
Those words say so much about both the urgency and the hope that define Houston’s education ecosystem. They also capture what we believe deeply at Possip- that listening and belief are the starting points for transformation.
Another moment that stood out came from Amanda McMillian, CEO of United Way of Greater Houston. She shared how she found inspiration in Cincinnati’s citywide collaboration, where schools, nonprofits, and business leaders built shared systems to move students toward long-term success. It was meaningful to hear that, because Cincinnati is another community where Possip has deep partnerships — and we’ve seen firsthand what’s possible when listening and alignment come together.
And then there was Steve Kean from the Greater Houston Partnership, who said something that got a knowing laugh and nods from many educators in the room:
“Imagine trying to do this with kids and parents. The noise is deafening.”
He’s right- listening at scale is noisy. But it’s also necessary. That “noise” is feedback, passion, love, frustration, and ideas- all the raw material communities need to make lasting change. The goal isn’t to quiet the noise; it’s to build the systems to hear it clearly.
Insights and Steps Forward
From my vantage point- as a Houston alumna, educator, and partner- here are a few reflections and steps that stood out from connectED:
Start with shared belief. Change begins when a community agrees that every child deserves opportunity- regardless of where they start.
Build the infrastructure to listen. Real progress requires systems that make it possible to hear families, students, staff, and alumni- and to turn what you hear into action.
Learn across cities. Houston borrowing lessons from Cincinnati is a reminder that progress scales when communities share ideas, not just data.
Invite – and sometimes ignore – the noise. The “deafening” sound of parents and kids speaking up is the sound of a community that cares. In a bit of an irony, by listening well you can also figure out where to focus. So often the reason there is so much “noise” is because systems don’t have a way to hear from a broad basis of people. Something we have seen partners like Houston ISD do is listen deeply – and use that listening to focus and prioritize. At our table was a leader in a neighboring district to Houston who successfully leads school turnaround work. I asked her where she started. She said with the leader. I asked her what she did with the leaders. She said she helped them focus and prioritize. Listening can help you focus.
Measure what truly matters. The North Star isn’t just test scores- it’s students earning a living wage, contributing to their communities, and living full, choice-filled lives. Mike Miles was so clear on the urgency of not only getting kids to proficiently read, write and do Math. He was also focused on the skills they’ll need in 2035.
Listening, Believing, and Building- Together
Houston is a city of builders- of systems, relationships, and futures. The connectED convening was a powerful reminder that when belief meets action, when listening meets structure, transformation isn’t just possible- it’s already happening.
Possip is proud to be a small part of that work, walking alongside the educators and communities who believe in Houston’s kids as much as we do. And that spirit of shared belief and structured action is what we’re bringing to districts nationwide. If you are looking to take the next step in building your community listening infrastructure, the kind that enables true transformation, we invite you to explore our Enrollment Success Toolkit.
It’s our way of helping more districts translate belief into action.
