By Megan Wehring
HAYS COUNTY — What do you remember most when you graduate? It could be a favorite teacher, a project that you created or maybe even a sport you played.
For the Hays CISD community, many recall the legacy of beloved Armando Chapa, who died on Wednesday, April 13. He was a longtime advocate for Hays CISD students and public education as a whole.
In 1974, Chapa started his career with the district as a special education counselor, and the following year was named principal of Hays CISD’s only middle school at the time. Then, in 1986, he was selected as the first principal of what would later become Wallace Middle School.
From the early 1990s to his retirement in 2004, Chapa served as a counselor at Barton Middle School. In 2006, Hays CISD recognized Chapa’s service by naming the newest middle school after him.
“He exemplified success through hard work, exercised sound judgment, had a wonderful sense of humor and had a genuine concern for his students and teachers,” Hays CISD wrote in a Facebook post, honoring Chapa’s memory. “His family's legacy in education continues in Hays CISD through his children, two of whom currently work for the district.”
