Dr. Terry B. Grier

Position: Superintendent

School: N/A

School District: Houston Independent School District

City, State: Houston, TX

About the LifeChanger: Dr. Terry B. Grier has served as Superintendent of the 204,000 student Houston Independent School District (HISD) since September 2009. He has successfully brought together others to serve as co-architects of plans to positively change the lives of Houston's children. HISD has started a "Breakfast in The Classroom" program that provides free breakfast to students. Last year, Dr. Grier helped raise over $200,000 to provide free eye exams and glasses to disadvantaged elementary students. To address low performing students, HISD started an ambitions turnaround program aimed at the district's lowest performing schools, implemented "Graduation Labs" that allows students to make-up previously failed courses on line, and opened small "Twilight High Schools" that allow students to complete courses in the evenings and on Saturday. Led by Dr. Grier, all 35 HISD high schools now offer a minimum of 15 AP courses. During his tenure in Houston, the dropout rate has been cut in one-half and the graduation rate has increased. Dr. Grier has changed the lives of thousands of Houston children!

We surprised Dr. Grier to let him know that he is one of the 2012-2013 LifeChangers of the Year!