After hard work, Williams gets well-earned rest

Michael Williams has not come home to Arlington much in three years as Texas’ state education commissioner, and that is both good and bad news.

We’ve missed his leadership here, but when he steps down Jan. 1, he will be remembered for his work to rescue children in failing districts elsewhere statewide.

In Beaumont, for example, new trustees credit Williams with a turnaround that included replacing the board. Locally, Williams appointed new leaders to replace dysfunctional officials at the Prime Prep Academy charter school, which was eventually closed.

Williams, appointed by former Gov. Rick Perry, has brought encouragement to an education system regularly asked to do more with less. Williams delayed raising the passing standard for statewide school assessment tests, but now says schools are ready.

In 2008, when he was a state railroad commissioner overseeing energy policy, his name was fleetingly mentioned as a possible running mate for Republican presidential nominee John McCain against Barack Obama. That outcome might not have changed, but the campaign would have, and for the better.

This story was originally published October 19, 2015 at 5:39 PM with the headline "After hard work, Williams gets well-earned rest."