Staff Report

HAYS COUNTY – Hays High School will have a new principal beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. 

Kristina Salazar

During the Hays CISD Board of Trustees meeting on May 23, the trustees approved the hiring decision of Kristina Salazar as the new principal for Hays HS.  

Salazar replaces the long-time Hays High School principal, David Pierce, who was recently promoted in Hays CISD to a deputy academic officer position.  

Salazar is an accomplished educator with 30 years of experience in education. She has also been a Hays CISD community member, residing in Kyle for 14 years. 

For the past four years, Salazar has served as the principal of W. Charles Akins Early College High School in Austin – the largest Career and Technical Education (CTE) campus in Austin ISD with 2,550 students and 300 staff members. In 2019, she facilitated the addition of the Early College High School program at Akins that enables students to simultaneously earn their associate’s degrees along with their high school diplomas.  

Salazar holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Writing from St. Edward’s University in Austin and a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Concordia University in Austin. She began her career as an English teacher at her alma mater in Lockhart ISD before continuing her career in Deer Park, Klein, Clear Creek, New Braunfels and Austin ISDs. 

Through the years she earned progressively more responsible leadership positions, including instructional coach, department chair, and athletic coach at both the middle school and high school levels. After 21 years in education, she moved into administration and has served as an assistant principal, academy director and principal. In 2016, she was named a finalist in Austin ISD for the Assistant Principal of the Year award and has been an Austin ISD nominee for Principal of the Year for the last two years.  

“My vision is that every student should be known, valued, and inspired to be college, career, and life ready through the utilization of strong relationships and partnerships with students, teachers, parents, and the community,” said Salazar. “As a leader, I aspire to create an educational culture of collaborative learning and teamwork. As a Hays CISD community member, I am honored and blessed to be able to serve this distinguished community in this capacity.” 

“It’s my pleasure to welcome Kristina Salazar to the Hays CISD family,” said Hays CISD Superintendent Dr.Eric Wright. “She has the experience and talent to continue our traditions of excellence at Hays High School. I was impressed with her ability to build partnerships with teachers, parents, and students. Strong relationships and trust are the key ingredients in the pursuit of success.”