Dr. Geovanny Ponce started the position of chief of schools on July 10, 2023. He previously served as the assistant superintendent of high schools for Houston Independent School District, the 8th largest public school system in the nation.

Ponce has extensive leadership experience using data to drive change in a large school division. During his tenure in Houston, he increased the division graduation rate and percentage of students enrolling in higher education, improved emergent bilingual student English language proficiency, and decreased the dropout rate. 

Teachers also benefited under his leadership as he reduced the teacher turnover rate and decreased the number of vacant positions at the start of the school year.

He improved the campus ratings of multiple schools through an increased focus on instructional delivery and instructional coaching. Ponce also established partnerships with universities and community agencies to address bilingual teacher shortages and increase student support services. 

A graduate of University of Honduras with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Ponce earned a master’s degree in public education from the University of Houston and his doctorate in education from Texas A&M. 

Ponce has served on multiple advisory boards for the U.S. Department of Education and was the president of the Association of Hispanic School Administrators (AHSA). He received the Texas A&M Distinguished Alumni Award and was honored as the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Secondary Principal of the Year.