The superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District has been chosen to be the next chief of the Houston Independent School District.
The Houston school board announced the choice of Terry Grier today. The 59-year-old Grier has led the San Diego Unified School District since March 2008.
The Houston district is the largest district in Texas and the seventh largest in the country.
The board must wait 21 days before formally hiring Grier.
The announcement ends a six-month national search to find a replacement for departing Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra.
Saavedra plans to step down Aug. 31 after five years as Houston school superintendent. The district's chief financial officer, Melinda Garrett, will serve as the interim superintendent until Grier takes over.