Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright rang the proverbial first day of school bell for the last time in his 9-year tenure as the second-longest serving superintendent of Hays CISD. His exceptional community-building skills and loyal service led Hays CISD through tough times – the pandemic, a fentanyl crisis, a fatal school bus accident and reading score deficiencies. But his legacy will live on through his many safety and scholarly initiatives.
“At the time (Dr. Wright began in 2018), we had failing schools, low staff morale, and high turnover,” said School Board Secretary Esperanza Orosco. “That all changed with Dr. Wright as a key factor. Now, we enjoy academic success; benefit from sound, thoughtful, and genuine servant leadership; and we’ve become the most employee-friendly school district in Texas.”
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Wright’s efforts to centralize school safety resulted in the district’s first chief safety and security officer position (a superintendent’s cabinet position), which later expanded to an entire safety and security team. He also led the effort to make all school buses in Hays CISD safer than the law requires, even though the district was not at fault in the crash that claimed the life of a pre-k student in November 2024.
When Wright started, reading scores in the district were at a deficit. He implemented a program teaching students how to read on grade level using phonics as a base, and now, the district exceeds state and regional averages.
Another initiative he began was striving to have 100% of its middle and high school students involved in some type of extra or co-curricular program like fine arts, athletics, student council, CTE competition clubs, or another type of student group. Studies show students who are involved and included are less likely to commit acts of violence and are more willing to reach out to a trusted coach or adult in times of crisis.
Wright’s influence on Hays CISD continues with the requirement for Hays CISD students to earn at least 40 hours of community service to graduate high school, a provision that takes effect this school year with the Class of 2027.
In His Own Words
“It is imperative that students learn from highly qualified role models and that their talents are recognized and used as a foundational cornerstone,” Wright said in a statement about his retirement. “Achievements are evident when you set a positive learning climate that is based on excellence, fairness, equity, justice, and trust. Managing a school district is not a solitary pursuit. People want to have a voice regarding their schools, including parents, students, employees, and community members. As an educational leader, my job is to communicate and challenge individuals. Working together, we are successful when our future graduates are well prepared to be happy, productive, and competitive in the global economy.”
Dr. Wright’s Service in Numbers
Student body grew from 19,125 to more than 25,000
2 nonprofits were created to help students with food and clothing - the Hays Clothes Closet and Hays Hope2Go
More than $1.5 billion in bond projects were approved by the district’s voters to create
• four new elementary schools,
• the district’s fourth comprehensive high school
• expansions at multiple campuses, including all six middle schools
• new school buses
• safety and security improvements
• technology enhancements