Hays CISD welcomes new Kyle Elementary School and Simon Middle School principals

BUDA — Hays CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright announced last week that two new principals have been named.

Shawn Maxwell will serve as the new principal for Kyle Elementary School and Salvador Vega will be the new principal of Simon Middle School.

Shawn Maxwell[/caption]

Maxwell is a longtime Hays CISD employee with a nearly two-decade long award-winning, successful record of achievement for his students, teachers, families and staff members.

“Shawn has consistently displayed the ability to improve and incorporate systems for academics, behavior, teacher and staff support and parental communication.

He has helped lead both of our campuses at which he has been an assistant principal to earning an ‘A’ rating,” said Dr. Wright. “I visited with Kyle Elementary staff members and have listened to the characteristics that they seek in a principal.

Shawn meets all of the marks and I am confident that he will be a great fit for the campus.”

With a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master of Education in Administration from Lamar University, Maxwell began with Hays CISD more than a decade ago as an elementary school teacher.

He was promoted to assistant principal at Elm Grove Elementary in 2014. Maxwell currently serves as the assistant principal of Carpenter Hill Elementary and has also held the role of Hays CISD elementary summer school principal. He was named the Hays CISD Assistant Principal of the Year in both 2017 and 2021. This year, Maxwell was named the Texas Education Agency Region 13 Assistant Principal of the Year, which includes all of central Texas.

“I’m excited to join the team at Kyle Elementary as the new principal,” Maxwell said in an email to Hays CISD staff and parents.

“With change comes the opportunity to set new goals, make new friends and develop new habits that lead to success. I’m passionate about education and look forward to partnering with you to provide our students with a rigorous, engaging and high-quality school experience.”

The Hays CISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the decision to hire Vega as principal for Simon Middle School during its meeting on Monday, June 26. He is an experienced educator and public-school leader with a track record of success that spans more than 40 years, Hays CISD said.

Salvador Vega[/caption]

“Sal Vega is a change agent, team-builder and unifier with a humble and genuine personality,” said Dr. Wright. “I’m excited to have him join our team and take over the leadership role at Simon Middle School. His skill in working with students, teachers, staff and parents is exceptional and he has helped many schools achieve great things. I have no doubt that the Simon Middle School family will benefit from his experience and appreciate his inclusive

With a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with minors in Spanish and physical education along with a Master of Education from Stephen F. Austin State University, Vega began his career in education as an eighth grade Texas history, language arts and bilingual teacher in the Houston area. He was named to his first post as school principal at the elementary level in 1982, then at the junior high school level in 1999.

Vega’s career culminated in serving as the superintendent of schools for Flatonia ISD from 2009-12, after which he retired. In 2015, he came out of retirement to work as a teacher and principal in Manor and Lake Travis ISDs.

Vega said he was proud of his expertise in “team building, improving student academic performance, student discipline, bilingual education, professional learning communities, balanced literacy, total quality management and the ‘Seven Habits’ program.”

For more information, visit www.hayscisd.net.