Huston leaves job at College Board as questions raised about support for CRT-inspired bill

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston has left his job at the College Board, a national nonprofit known for its programs like Advanced Placement classes and the SAT exam, to focus more on his work at the Statehouse.

Huston, a Fishers Republican first elected in 2012 and promoted to lead the chamber at the end of the 2020 legislative session, had been with the organization for nearly a decade. 

In an email to IndyStar Tuesday, Feb. 8, a spokesperson with College Board said Huston’s last day with the organization was Monday, Feb. 7. Huston had been a senior vice president. 

“Todd Huston concluded that the demands of both his role here and his elected position are not sustainable, and he wants to devote more time to his work in Indiana,” said Zach Goldberg, executive director of communications for the New York-based College Board. “We’re grateful for his nine successful years at the College Board. Over that time, Todd has cultivated a superb team of leaders, who are now well prepared to lead our work with state and district partners.”

Huston confirmed his departure in a statement released later Tuesday afternoon. 

"Since taking on the role of House Speaker, I've contemplated how I could best balance the tremendous level of responsibility required in my substantial role at the College Board and as a public servant," he said. "Ultimately, I decided to leave the College Board family."

Huston said he is currently focused on a "strong, successful finish" to the legislative session, which will conclude next month, and will "recharge my batteries post-session before considering future opportunities."

A spokesperson for Huston said his decision to leave was not related to any legislative efforts.

Concerns involving HB 1134 vote

In recent weeks, some political activists and education advocates had begun raising questions about Huston’s role at the College Board in light of his support of legislation that would restrict what and how Hoosier educators could teach.

Huston voted in favor of House Bill 1134, which prohibits teachers from promoting certain “divisive concepts,” including that any sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin or political affiliation is inherently superior or inferior to another and that any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish responsibility, or any other form of psychological distress on account of those same characteristics.

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The bill also creates an avenue for educators that violate the law to lose their teaching license and would allow for parental oversight of materials used in the classroom.

The Speaker of the House rarely votes on legislation in Indiana and doing so often signals it's a legislative priority. 

Lauren Ganapini, executive director of the Indiana Democratic Party, called Huston a "walking conflict-of-interest" in a statement released after the news broke Tuesday afternoon. Democrats have vigorously opposed HB 1134.

"While him parting ways from the College Board is good for education overall, House Bill 1134 is still alive and risks putting Indiana's teacher shortage in overdrive," she said. 

The College Board declined to answer questions about HB 1134 or provide a position on the proposal. 

Last week, Santiago Mayer, who is the founder and executive director of Voters of Tomorrow, a national organization that seeks to encourage youth voting and civic engagement, tweeted about Huston’s role at the College Board and questioned if it was why the organization had not taken a position on similar legislation being considered in states around the country. He started a social media campaign to #FireToddHuston.

On Monday, independent journalist and Democratic political activist Judd Legum published a story questioning College Board’s employment of Huston amid the speaker’s support for HB 1134.

According to 2019 tax filings from the College Board, Huston was making $460,738 in his role there.

Huston was first elected in 2012, the same year he began working at the College Board. In 2020, he served as an understudy of sorts to retiring House Speaker Brian Bosma before taking over the position himself in the 2021 legislative session. Prior to serving in the General Assembly, Huston had stints on the Hamilton Southeastern School Board, the State Board of Education and the Fishers Plan Commission. He also served as chief of staff for former schools Superintendent Tony Bennett. 

Call IndyStar education reporter Arika Herron at 317-201-5620 or email her at Arika.Herron@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @ArikaHerron.