Less than a year after opening, McCormick Middle School will now have its second principal.
Late last month, Hays CISD board trustees approved the hiring of James Cruz as the school’s next principal.
Cruz, who is the current principal at Del Valle Middle School, takes over for Thad Gittens, who left at the end of the school year. Gittens was hired in 2015 as the school’s inaugural principal and helped open the new campus in 2016.
According to a Hays CISD statement, Cruz has a 14-year career in education at DVISD. Cruz currently resides within Hays CISD boundaries.
“As the principal, I want to ensure that each child has access to and receives a quality education. I believe this can be achieved by providing a safe and nurturing environment conducive to learning,” said Cruz in a statement. “I envision our school as a place where all students can learn, where teachers can teach and be supported, and where all stakeholders are committed to excellence.”
Cruz began his career as a middle school math teacher and boys athletics coach at Del Valle. He also worked a Dailey Middle School in DVISD as a math teacher and department chair. In 2011, Cruz became the Del Valle Middle School assistant principal prior to earning the top position in 2013.
We’re excited about James joining our team. He is a familiar friend who has lived in the community nearly 10 years and has served on important district-level citizen planning committees,” said Hays CISD Public Information Officer Tim Savoy.
He added Cruz was a member of the district’s 2016 Bond Oversight Committee and helped oversee the final touches to McCormick Middle.
Cruz earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Managmeent from Southwest Texas University in 2003 and a Master of Education Administration from Concordia University in 2011.
