On February 3, 2026, Playmakers Talk Show host Steve Klein sat down with Timothy Hise at the United to Learn offices in Dallas for a conversation that is equal parts inspiring and urgent. Tim, who began his career as a classroom teacher and rose through the ranks of Dallas ISD before leading national education work at TNTP, stepped into the CEO role at United to Learn in August 2025.
In this episode, Tim shares why Dallas is one of the most exciting places in the country for public education right now, what it truly takes to ensure every child reads on grade level by third grade, and how United to Learn serves as the bridge between 124 of Dallas ISD’s elementary schools and the community’s time, talent, and treasure.
Whether you’re a parent, a business leader, a neighbor, or simply someone who believes in the future of this city, this conversation is for you.
Tim Hise on the Playmakers Talk Show with Host Steve Klein
Announcer:Welcome to Playmakers Talk Show, where business owners, professionals, and entrepreneurs gather to discover playmaking ideas for success. This episode features Timothy Hise, CEO of United to Learn — a Dallas-based nonprofit that drives student achievement and equity in Dallas ISD by mobilizing community partnerships, fostering educational innovation, and empowering every child across the city to read and succeed.
Background & Journey to United to Learn
Steve: Tell us a little about your background and what drew you to the CEO role at United to Learn.
Tim: What’s interesting — or unique this day and age — is this is actually only my third job as an adult. I was with Dallas ISD for a big portion of my career, then TNTP, and now here. I always knew I wanted to be an educator. I was 5 years old playing baseball in the street with my friends, but then asking them if they wanted to play school. I was eager to give them a spelling test or math facts.
I always knew I wanted to be an educator because my mom was, and I wanted to follow in her footsteps. Being a teacher, being a principal — best job, most fulfilling job you can ever have. After years in Dallas ISD and years at the national level, this role gave me the opportunity to come back to a place and have impact at scale across this city. There is no community quite like Dallas right now with energy and momentum in public education.
Building a Force Within Dallas ISD
Steve: What did you have to do to put all this together and become a force within DISD?
Tim: Next year will be United to Learn’s 10-year anniversary. We’ve grown from serving schools in a pocket of the city to being an integrated support at 124 elementary schools in every corner of Dallas. It takes smart people and impactful work, but it also takes trust and relationships in partnership with district leadership over time.
We don’t offer a packaged program. We don’t tell the district, “here’s how you solve the problems.” We recognize that teachers, principals, parents, and caregivers are doing hard work every day. We ask, “What else do you need? How can the community amplify what you’re doing, pick up where public dollars stop, and really run that last lap with you?” That partnership is what allows us to be a successful, comprehensive district-wide partner.
The Critical Importance of Third-Grade Reading
Steve: You mentioned third-grade reading — talk about that because it’s a big issue you’re working on.
Tim: Third-grade reading is a key milestone in the academic journey for a young person. Students who read on grade level by third grade are four times more likely to graduate high school on time and be on track for higher education, a life of opportunity, and a livable wage in the future.
Right now in Dallas, about six in ten third graders do not yet read on grade level — roughly 60% of third graders in our community aren’t on that track. We are making progress, but we have a long way to go. That is why we peg our North Star to that district goal of ensuring more students read by third grade.
Being literate allows you not only to engage in reading and writing, but to be a good mathematician, to understand the problems of the world, to be a scientist, to be a historian. Reading unlocks so much more for young people.
What Makes United to Learn Unique
Steve: What do you believe is most unique about your model?
Tim: A couple of things stand out. First, our scale — we’ve grown to be an integrated support at 124 elementary schools in every corner of the city. Second, we have a whole-campus focus. We’re not solely focused on in-classroom literacy supports. We address school culture and well-being, learning environments, and intentionally build bridges back to the community, amplifying the district’s efforts using the time, talent, and treasure that is abundant in Dallas.
Our staff is tremendous as well — people with a deep understanding of the school system and this community, which allows us to do good work and create real impact.
Funding the Mission
Steve: Where do you get the funding to do what you want to do?
Tim: State investment in public education in real dollars has not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels, so there’s a gap between public investment and what campuses need — and we exist to help fill that gap.
We leverage philanthropic investment, corporate investment, and the community’s time and talent. Schools are really great at educating young people, but not always great at — or have the time to — build the bridge that allows the community to connect and pour into it. We are that bridge. We activate community investment so that schools can have the resources and tools needed to support young people.
The Long-Term Economic Impact
Steve: Students who learn to read on grade level are projected to earn an additional $750,000 in lifetime income. Can you speak to that?
Tim: When students can earn nearly an additional million dollars over the course of their lifetimes, that makes a meaningful difference for them as individuals, for their families, and for this community — for our future workforce and the tax base in Dallas. That’s why I say public education is the single most important lever that we can invest in as a city.
Recent Progress in Dallas ISD
Tim: Last year, there was tremendous progress in student achievement. In third-grade reading, there was a 9.5-point gain in one year for students reading at grade level. The district is making the right strategic moves and investments to improve student achievement across every corner of the city.
How to Get Involved with United to Learn
Tim: There’s the impact we can have on young people and what they achieve in school today, and what they can earn in the future. But there’s also pride and joy in giving back to your community — showing up to schools and helping a young person make a new connection or read better; helping a teacher build a more inviting space for kids. Public education belongs to everyone. The success of Dallas ISD students is inseparable from the success of this city and our future.
Ways to Engage
- Volunteer — Visit the website for up-to-date volunteer opportunities at schools across the city
- Policy Study Cohort — Dig into Dallas policies and how they connect to public education
- Women’s Forum — Held three times a year; upcoming event on February 13th covering student wellness in the digital age, including AI and social media
- Donate — Give as much or as little as you can to help fill the gap between public funding and school needs
Connect with United to Learn
Email: [email protected] | Website: unitedtolearn.org | Social Media: Follow @UnitedtoLearn for the latest news and volunteer opportunities
“There is a path for everyone in this community to engage and give to public education in Dallas through United to Learn. We are eager to connect with anyone and everyone who shares our mission.” — Timothy Hise, CEO, United to Learn
This interview was conducted by Steve Klein on the Playmakers Talk Show. Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai and edited for clarity.
FAQs
Who is Timothy Hise and what is his role at United to Learn?
Timothy Hise is the CEO of United to Learn, a Dallas-based nonprofit that drives student achievement and equity in Dallas ISD by mobilizing community partnerships, fostering educational innovation, and supporting literacy. He began his career as a classroom teacher, rose through the ranks of Dallas ISD, then led national education work at TNTP before stepping into the United to Learn CEO role in August 2025.
Why is third-grade reading such an important milestone?
Students who read on grade level by third grade are four times more likely to graduate high school on time and be on track for higher education and economic opportunity. Reading by third grade also unlocks success in every other subject — math, science, history — because literacy is foundational to all learning.
How many Dallas ISD third graders are reading on grade level?
As of the 2024–2025 school year, approximately 40% of Dallas ISD third graders were reading on grade level — meaning roughly six in ten were not yet on track. However, the district recorded a 9.5-point gain in third-grade reading in a single year, representing significant progress toward the goal of ensuring every child reads and succeeds.
How does United to Learn work with Dallas ISD?
United to Learn serves as a bridge between 124 of Dallas ISD’s elementary schools and the community’s time, talent, and resources. Rather than offering a packaged program, United to Learn asks schools what they need and activates community investment — philanthropic, corporate, and volunteer — to fill the gap between public funding and what campuses require to support students.
What is the lifetime earnings impact of reading on grade level by third grade?
Students who learn to read on grade level are projected to earn an additional $750,000 in lifetime income compared to those who do not. This has implications not only for individual students and their families, but for Dallas’s future workforce and tax base.
How can Dallas residents get involved with United to Learn?
United to Learn offers multiple pathways for community engagement: volunteering at Dallas ISD schools, joining the Policy Study Cohort, attending the Margaret J. Hirsch Women’s Forum, or making a financial contribution. Visit unitedtolearn.org to explore current opportunities.