Superintendent of Schools - Wharton ISD

Dr. Michael J. O’Guin, Sr., is in his third year as superintendent of schools for Wharton ISD. He is an experienced, servant leader with more than two decades’ worth of experience in education improving academic achievement, enriching student experiences, building bridges among teacher and staff teams, reducing disciplinary problems and absenteeism, embracing parent and community involvement, and fostering a growth mindset for all. 

Dr. O’Guin began his career in education in Fort Bend ISD in 2000 as a social studies teacher and coach. He’s served in a variety of roles since then.  He’s served as an athletic director, campus instructional specialist, middle school assistant principal, 9^th-grade academy principal, and high school principal in Nacogdoches ISD from 2016-18.  During this time, he was able to increase academic achievement scores, improve student attendance, and dramatically reduce student discipline referrals. 

In 2018, Dr. O’Guin was hired by Hays CISD as a deputy academic officer, which is a senior leadership position equivalent to assistant superintendent. In Hays CISD, he managed two high schools, as well as multiple middle and elementary schools. He also served as the interim chief academic officer for a time, during which he was responsible for the academic leadership of the entire 21,000-student, 25-campus school district. Under his leadership at Hays CISD, all five of the elementary campuses for which he was responsible earned distinctions. And, two of the three secondary campuses under his direction improved their A-F accountability scores. Before the 2020 COVID-19 crisis that suspended the state’s accountability system, every campus under Dr. O’Guin’s management was demonstrating increases in student achievement based on standardized district curriculum assessments.

“All of my varied experiences in the educational field have afforded me opportunities to have a positive effect on students. Student achievement and success in the classroom continue to be a driving force for me every day,” said Dr. O’Guin. “I am a self-motivated leader who is committed to ensuring that all students have opportunities to be successful and reach their full potential. My leadership skills, ability to effectively communicate, and my ability to relate to all students are assets that have helped me achieve success as an educator.”

Dr. O’Guin holds his Doctorate of Educational Administration and his Master of Educational Administration, both from Texas Southern University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History, with a minor in English, from Sam Houston State University – Class of 1994. He holds a registered Texas school business administrator certification (RTSBA) from the Texas Association of School Business Officials and he is credentialed by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification as a superintendent, principal, and teacher. 

Dr. O’Guin is a native of Livingston, Texas where he attended elementary, primary, junior high, and high school where he graduated in 1988.  Dr. O’Guin is married to his beautiful wife Janice (graduate of Sam Houston State University) they have two children, Michael Jr. (a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, and currently an assistant football coach at Sam Houston State University), and Jhanae (a graduate of Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, TX, B.S. Psychology, and the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, a Masters of Public Health Administration) a medical student at St. Georges University and is currently completing her clinical rotations in Brooklyn, New York.