Barbers Hill ISD, one of the fastest-growing school districts in the greater Houston area, operates in line with its popular slogans: “We Can, We Will, We’re Barbers Hill” and “Excellence by Any Measure.” Since he was appointed superintendent of the district in 2006, Dr. Greg Poole has adopted these phrases as an organizational leadership style, striving to establish Barbers Hill ISD as a regional and statewide leader in academic performance. Under his direction, the district has become a leader in teacher salaries and shown consistent improvements across a variety of school and student success metrics.
Multi-Faceted Achievements at Barbers Hill ISD
When Dr. Poole arrived at Barbers Hill ISD, the district had a Texas Education Agency (TEA) accountability rating of academically acceptable. In the TEA’s 2024 and 2025 Accountability Ratings, Barbers Hill received an “A” grade and led other Houston-area districts with a score of 93, one point ahead of Tomball and Friendswood ISDs. Each Barbers Hill campus either maintained or improved its overall rating as well.
In addition, Dr. Poole has presided over significant achievements in district-wide bilingual education, specifically relating to English language assessments for emergent bilingual students. Its bilingual/ESL department has steadily grown and now consists of nearly 500 emergent bilingual students, or about 6.5% of the district’s student population.
A proponent of higher education, Dr. Poole is also playing a significant role in bringing a college campus to the Barbers Hill community. Called a “tremendous visionary leader” by Lee College president Dr. Lynda Villanueva, he has been working with the Baytown community college on plans for a branch campus in Mont Belvieu since 2015. The $154 million campus, covering 60,000 square feet of space on 20 acres, is expected to open in fall 2027.
A Record of Service and Excellence
Dr. Poole is the second-longest serving school leader in Barbers Hill history and was nominated by the school board in 2010 for Texas Superintendent of the Year. A former high school football coach and athletics director, he has also earned District and County Coach of the Year honors and won Article of the Year from Texas Coach magazine. In addition, he has received community-based awards such as West Chambers County Man of the Year and Hero of Patriotism from the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Before joining Barbers Hill ISD in 2006, Dr. Poole spent five years as principal at Caney Creek High School, a Conroe ISD campus. Here, he exhibited the same pursuit of excellence he continues to show today, leading the school to gradual improvements in state rankings. Previously, in the second of his two years as principal of Moorhead Junior High School, the campus led all Texas junior high schools in percentage of Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) improvement.
Dr. Poole has also served as a state-elected member of the Teacher Retirement System Board, which oversees nearly $100 billion in investments. In addition, he is a member of the boards of the Texas Interscholastic League Foundation and Texas High School Coaches Association Foundation. Moreover, he has been a member of the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Legislative Council since 2007.
Dr. Poole holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Texas A&M University, College Station, and earned his master’s in educational leadership at Sam Houston State University. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.
Dr. Poole’s leadership is deeply rooted in his commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, one that empowers both educators and students alike. His approach goes beyond implementing policy changes; it is about creating an environment where every member of the Barbers Hill ISD community feels valued and motivated to succeed. His emphasis on collaboration, continuous professional development for teachers, and the integration of innovative learning strategies has positioned the district as a beacon of success. Dr. Poole believes that the success of the district lies in its collective strength, and he consistently encourages an open-door policy with his staff and the community, fostering transparent communication and a strong sense of unity.
