About

Learn about Harris County Department of Education including our News & Press Releases, Projects, and Team.

Learn about Harris County Department of Education including our News & Press Releases, Projects, and Team.

Number of Students (approx.)
30,000
Number of School Districts
25
Debt Outstanding as of 8/31/2023
$61,320,032

Harris County Department of Education is a public entity dedicated to helping meet the needs of uniquely challenged learners and school staff in the state’s largest county through innovative programming and support services. HCDE directly serves approximately 30,000 students with four alternative campuses, therapy services provided in local schools, 17 Head Start centers for early childhood education, after-school programming in dozens of community and school settings and the largest adult education program in Texas.  

HCDE also supports educators and school staff with professional development opportunities in diverse instructional areas ranging from core content to special populations and educational technology, as well as offers programs supporting school safety and alternative certification. The department provides valuable operational support to districts and public agencies in Harris County in the form of an advanced records management system, facilities planning and purchasing power through the Choice Partners program.

These services are supported through a property tax of approximately ½ cent (about $9 annually for the average Harris County homeowner) as well as a revenue-generating model for some divisions. With this funding, HCDE provides savings to Harris County’s 25 school districts, allowing districts to keep money in the classroom and preserve their own tax rates. HCDE has lowered its tax rate for the last five years, consistently staying below the effective tax rate, providing an exceptional value to Harris County taxpayers.

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Richard Cantu

Richard Cantu: President

Position 3, At-Large

Richard Cantu is the executive director of the East Aldine Management District and has more than 28 years of experience as a public servant. He has also worked in management and executive level positions at the City of Houston (Parks and Recreation Department and Mayor’s Office), as director of the Houston Mayor’s Citizens’ Assistance Office and as a program and community center director at BakerRipley. 

He serves as president of the Aldine Education Foundation and board member of the Greens Bayou Coalition, the North Harris County Education Alliance, and the Lone Star College Foundation. He is a graduate of Leadership North Houston, and the Citizens Police Academy of the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. He is also a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Houston and a Master of Liberal Arts in Public Administration from the University of St. Thomas.

Cantu began his term in January 2019 with the term expiring in December 2024.

Get to know Cantu as he has devoted his life to public service to ensure everyone in the community reaches their full potential (external link to YouTube opens in new tab).


Andrea Duhon

Andrea Duhon: First Vice President

Position 4, Precinct 3

Andrea Duhon is the Chief Operations Officer and Partner at Nine Bright Lights, LLC, a Houston-based woman-owned small business and Factory Direct Sales Coordinator at illumiPure. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from McNeese State University.

She has served as a Community Leader for Combined Arms, formerly Lone Star Veterans Association, a nonprofit helping veterans transition to civilian life. Husband Hank is active duty in the Navy. She has two daughters, 9 and 1, with the oldest attending school at Katy ISD.

Duhon was appointed to her position in December 2019 with the term ending December 2024.

Get to know Duhon as she has been an advocate for Houston's children since she moved to the area years ago.


Amy Flores Hinojosa

Amy Flores Hinojosa: Second Vice President

Position 1, Precinct 2

As a process engineer, she is employed by Chevron Corporation as project manager in technology development. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston.

She resides in Pasadena with her husband and two children and shares her passion for education through several student and professional mentoring initiatives. As the founder of Community Leaders Encouraging Academia Through Sports, Inc. or CLEATS, the Pasadena native heads a community youth athletic program which allows students to explore their college futures by visiting local universities.

During 2020, Hinojosa serves as director on the board of ProUnitas, a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness of health and wellness resources for youth to be successful in school and beyond. She continues to grow her leadership skills as a Houston Leadership ISD 2020 fellow and a Houston Latinos for Education 2019 fellow.

Hinojosa was appointed to her position in December 2019 with the term ending December 2022.

Get to know Hinojosa as she believes the best way to honor her family is to give back to her community by ensuring a quality education and opportunity for all (external link to YouTube opens in new tab).


Erica Davis

Erica Davis

Position 5, At-Large

Davis is the chief of staff for the Harris County Precinct One Constable’s Office of Alan Rosen, where she focuses on building bridges between law enforcement and the community.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Interpersonal Communication & Spanish from the University of Houston, a master's in public affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin, and is currently working on an M.S. in Science at Columbia University-New York.

As a true public servant, Erica develops educational safety seminars for all communities, provides resource fairs for low-income communities and develops multiple platforms for diversity and inclusion and youth to dialogue on progressive issues.

Erica Davis is a proud veteran’s wife to David, a devoted bonus mom to Elijah, and a native Houstonian. In her free time, you can find her serving in all communities.

Davis began her term in January 2021 with the term ending December 2026.

Get to know Davis as she believes the community needs to know about all the resources available for our children.


David W. Brown

David W. Brown

Position 7, At-Large

Brown, a first-generation high school and college graduate, is a proud husband and father of three. After graduating from college, he became a full-time entrepreneur and community activist. He is currently a health educator with a non-profit organization located in the Third Ward.

He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration, a master's in business administration with a focus on public administration and is currently working on a doctorate in business administration specializing in leadership.

Brown began his term in January 2021 with the term ending December 2026.

Get to know Brown as he wants to help the youth of Harris County know about the resources available to them (external link opens in new tab).

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Danyahel (Danny) Norris

Danyahel (Danny) Norris

Position 6, Precinct 1

Norris is a practicing intellectual property attorney, principal partner of Norris & Norris LLP and is a past president of the Houston Lawyers Association. He shares his leadership skills through various professional organizations, including the New Leaders Council, Houston chapter.

Norris began his term in January 2019, with the term expiring in December 2024.

Get to know Norris as he believes in the importance of helping the underserved in the community (external link to YouTube opens in new tab).

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Erick Dick

Eric Dick

Position 2, Precinct 4

Eric Dick is a homeowner’s insurance lawyer and owner of Dick Law Firm, PLLC.

After obtaining an associate's degree from a community college, he gained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix. He earned a Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University and a Master of Laws from the University of Alabama.

Dick began his term in January 2017 with the term expiring in December 2022.

Get to know Dick as he believes it's important to help others.

View Board of Trustees

Harris County Department of Education Public Facility Corporation (PFC) issues bonds to provide for the acquisition of and the construction and renovation of educational facilities in accordance with the Public Facility Corporation Act. In January 2006, the PFC issued lease revenue bonds that funded construction of the new Highpoint school and the acquisition, renovation, and equipping of the records management warehouse/administrative North Post Oak facility.

The Department issued maintenance tax notes in May 2009 and qualified zone academy bonds (QZAB) in July 2009 to fund energy and instructional related building repairs and renovations, along with accompanying equipment and furniture. In October 2016, the PC issued $7,000,000 Lease Revenue Bonds that funded the new construction of a replacement AB West Campus.

The Department implemented a $52 million capital improvement program Phase One to include the issuance of maintenance notes and lease revenue bonds. On October 5, 2021, the department issued maintenance notes in the amount of $13,695,000 and Lease Revenue Bond Series 2021 in the amount of $27,730,000. Moody's assigned a Aaa Rating to the HCDE Series 2020 Maintenance Tax Notes and Aa1 to the 202 Series Lease Revenue Bonds. The department also projects to use $5,740,000 from its fund balance in the general fund to implement the 2020 capital program.

Name Position
Michelle Williams President
Richard Cantu First Vice President
Andrea Duhon Second Vice President
Dr. Jesus J. Amezuca Treasurer/Secretary
James Colbert Jr. Director
Amy Flores Hinojosa Director
Joe Carreon Director
View PFC Board

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