Mike Morath is an American software developer, investor, and education administrator who has served as the Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency (Texas Commissioner of Education) since February 2015, when he was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott. In this role, Morath oversees the state's public education system, implementing policies on curriculum standards, school accountability, and educational funding. His tenure has been marked by initiatives to improve student outcomes through data-driven reforms, including the adoption of new assessment systems and responses to educational challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. Morath's approach emphasizes accountability and innovation in education, though it has drawn criticism from some educators and advocates for being overly focused on standardized testing and school choice expansions.

Prior to his appointment as commissioner, Morath served as a trustee on the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) Board of Trustees from 2012 to 2015. During this time, he was a prominent advocate for school reform, leading efforts to grant the district home-rule status to grant it greater autonomy from state regulations. This initiative, which aimed to address chronic underperformance in DISD schools, ultimately failed at the ballot but highlighted Morath's commitment to restructuring urban education systems. His board service also involved legal actions, including a lawsuit against Paul Sadler, a former state legislator and education advocate, related to disputes over school governance and reform strategies.

Morath began his career in the technology sector, co-founding software companies such as WebMessengers, which developed communication tools, and later investing in ed-tech ventures. A University of Texas at Austin alumnus, he transitioned from business to public service driven by a passion for applying technological solutions to educational inefficiencies. Morath's background in tech has influenced his policy work, promoting digital tools and data analytics in Texas schools.