News
In Memoriam: Mike Morrow, ATPE’s First Executive Director
Date Posted: 8/13/2024
ATPE is saddened to announce the passing of Michael Reuben “Mike” Morrow, the association’s first executive director. Born Aug. 18, 1939, in Kaufman, Morrow began his career in Texas public education in North East ISD, where he served as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, and high school principal. He also served as superintendent of Anderson-Shiro CISD and the Windham School District, which provides educational services within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Morrow served as ATPE executive director from 1980 to 1989, a period of rapid change in Texas public education. The association’s response to House Bill (HB) 72, a landmark education bill passed in 1984, put the upstart organization on the map. HB 72 was written by then-chair of the House Public Education Committee, Rep. Bill Haley, with heavy input from Gov. Mark White, House Speaker Gib Lewis, and H. Ross Perot, then serving in the Texas House of Representatives.
Former ATPE Governmental Relations Director Mike McLamore recalls a meeting between Perot and Morrow at the ATPE state office: “Perot snuck in the back door where the printing room was located, [saying] he intentionally came in the back door to check out how the office was ‘really run.’ Morrow refused to agree to Perot’s terms during the meeting, and Perot called Morrow ‘goofy’ in the newspaper. Morrow used Perot’s quip in recruitment speeches all over the state.”
But ATPE’s response to HB 72 was far from “goofy.” ATPE was the first educator organization to declare opposition to the portion of HB 72 that controversially instituted a teacher competency test—the TECAT—for veteran educators to continue their certification. ATPE fought the TECAT through the legislative process, but when it passed, the association got to work, creating statewide licensure test preparation workshops and a TECAT manual. Membership skyrocketed. And, despite ATPE’s opposition to HB 72 provisions, Haley attended ATPE local recruitment meetings with Morrow. It was a true example of the hands-on relationships Morrow and ATPE built with legislators—relationships that have positively influenced multiple generations of Texas students. In 1987, ATPE successfully advocated to reduce HB 72’s “No Pass, No Play” period to three weeks instead of six and to streamline the teacher appraisal system, and Haley ultimately served as a contract lobbyist for ATPE.
Morrow passed away Aug. 2 in Huntsville. ATPE extends its sympathies to the Morrow family and friends. A memorial service will be held Aug. 14 in Huntsville.