Barbers Hill ISD under Dr. Greg Poole earns A’s in state ratings
When Dr. Greg Poole was named superintendent of Barbers Hill ISD in 2006, the Houston area district had an accountability rating of academically acceptable. Through dedicated efforts to engage students and empower teachers, Dr. Greg Poole has helped position the district as a statewide leader in academic performance. In its 2024 and 2025 Accountability Ratings, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) awarded Barbers Hill ISD with an overall “A” rating and an “A” grade for each of its campuses.
Standout scores for Barbers Hill ISD
Barbers Hill ISD led all greater Houston area districts with a score of 93 in the TEA’s 2025 Accountability Ratings, ahead of other prominent regional districts like Friendswood ISD (92), Tomball ISD (92), and Pearland ISD (91). Moreover, under the guidance of Dr. Poole, each of the district’s campuses either maintained or improved their overall ratings and number of distinction designations awarded. The TEA awards these distinctions for exceptional achievement in science, mathematics, social studies, and postsecondary readiness, among other disciplines.
The 85th Texas Legislature established the TEA’s A-F Accountability System in 2017 to ensure transparency in school performance in three key areas: student achievement, school progress, and closing gaps. In 2025, 55% of the state’s 1,208 public and charter districts achieved at least a “B” grade, while 15% scored a “D” or “F.” In a statement, Dr. Poole noted, “Taxpayers and parents deserve to see how their school district is doing, and I’m proud that our stakeholders see nothing but As at The Hill.”
A legacy of results-oriented leadership
Dr. Poole has overseen unprecedented growth through nearly two decades as superintendent at Barbers Hill and has made the district a state leader in teacher salaries. He was a finalist for Superintendent of the Year in 2010 and is the second-longest serving school leader in district history.
In addition to his district-wide leadership, Dr. Poole is a longtime advocate for the importance of sports and extracurricular activities. He is also the second-longest-serving member on the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Legislative Council, having been elected to the board in 2007, and has been chair of its Athletic Committee since 2012. He previously served as vice chair of the Council’s Academic Committee and is currently a board member for the Texas High School Coaches Association Foundation and Texas Interscholastic League Foundation.
A former coach, Dr. Poole has managed several high school football teams and most notably led the Caney Creek Panthers to a District 18-4A championship in 1998. He was athletic director at Caney Creek, a Conroe ISD school, from 1995-99 and from 2001 to 2006, he served as principal of the Caney Creek High School/Moorhead Junior High complex. Under his direction, Caney Creek achieved a state exemplary ranking in 2002 and 2003 and recognized ranking in 2005. In addition, he oversaw improvements in Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) scores at Moorhead. In total, Dr. Poole spent two decades at Conroe ISD.
Complementing his extensive leadership experience in public education, Dr. Poole is a summa cum laude graduate of Texas A&M University, College Station, where he earned a doctorate in educational leadership. He also received a master’s degree in educational leadership and bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Sam Houston State University. In addition, he has taught future educational leaders as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston-Clear Lake.
A proud sixth-generation Texan, Dr. Poole was a state football champion in his youth at Cameron Yoe High School. He hails from a family of educators: His parents, his wife, and his brother all work in education. He has been married for nearly 40 years and has three children, all of whom have attended Barbers Hill ISD schools.