Principal
(512) 268-2911
Email Joe Mitchell

Hello Hays High School Community!

I am incredibly excited to be back home in Hays CISD and honored to serve as the Principal of Hays High School! This community has meant so much to me throughout my career, and I couldn't be more excited to be back on a campus with such a rich tradition and so much Hawk pride.

I am entering my 18th year in education. I began my career as a Social Studies teacher in Austin ISD before serving students in Del Valle ISD and Seguin ISD. Throughout my career, I have served as a campus and district Instructional Coach, an Educational Consultant, an Assistant Principal at both Wallace Middle School (one of our feeder schools) and right here at Hays High School, and most recently as the Principal of Goodnight Middle School in San Marcos CISD.

Hays CISD has been home to my family for many years. I proudly worked in Hays CISD for 10 years before returning as Principal, and my family has called this community home for the past 20 years. My wife and I have two children; our oldest is a proud Hays High Class of 2026 graduate, and our youngest attends Dahlstrom Middle School. Hays isn't just where I work; it's home.

I earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Southwest Texas State University, a Master of Arts in Political Science from Texas State University, and a Master of Education from Concordia University.

I believe great schools are built on relationships. When students, staff, families, and the community trust one another and work together, amazing things happen. By setting high expectations and supporting one another, we can continue building a school where everyone is proud to be a Hawk.

I look forward to an incredible school year and can't wait to get to know our students and families. Please don't hesitate to reach out if there is ever anything I can do to help.

Go Hawks!

#HAWKYEAH