HISD Superintendent Terry Grier has hired a new chief officer over high schools to replace David Simmons, who abruptly announced his resignation last month, citing "unforeseen personal circumstances." The new high school chief, Aaron Spence, comes from the same school district — Chesterfield County Public Schools in Virginia — as the middle school chief, Dallas Dance, whom Grier hired in March.
Spence began his career as a high school French and photojournalism teacher in the Stafford County Public School System in Virginia. After teaching for several years, he served as an assistant principal and principal in the Henrico County Public School System in Virginia from 1998 to 2008. Spence received his doctorate, master's, and undergraduate degrees from the University of Virginia and is an adjunct professor at the university.