Hays CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright announced Tuesday April 25, 2023 that Christina Courson will serve as the new Hays CISD chief of human resources and Tim Robinson will serve as the new deputy chief of the division. At its meeting on Tuesday, the Hays CISD Board of Trustees approved the hiring decisions. Courson; who is the current chief of staff for Lockhart ISD overseeing the human resources, parent liaison, community relations, and communications divisions; returns to Hays CISD where she started her career in public education. Robinson, who is the current Hays CISD director of talent acquisition and a longtime principal and campus leader, will be promoted to the deputy chief position.

“Hays Consolidated Independent School District's commitment to being an unrivaled employee-friendly organization demonstrates an authentic investment in the school district's most valuable resource - its people,” said Courson. “In my 22 years of service to the youth and families of Texas, including seven years of cabinet-level school district administrator experience, I have developed a combination of skills that will support and enhance the effectiveness of the human resources department and district leadership team including cultivating relationships, trust-building, communication, marketing, servant leadership, strategic planning, leadership development, change management, creative problem solving, stakeholder engagement, and developing and launching innovative district initiatives.”

“I am passionate about education and the role it plays in shaping the youth of our nation,” Robinson said. “So critical in that formula is having a highly talented, well-appreciated, and well-equipped team of educators – teachers, nurses, librarians, campus leaders, bus drivers, child nutrition professionals, custodians, specialists, support personnel – all of the people who make a school district run and who connect that district to the community. All students can be successful given the right tools and opportunities – and with the right staff in place. I believe in public education and Hays CISD!”

Before joining Lockhart ISD in 2016, as its public information officer, Courson served as the communication specialist for Hays CISD. In that role she launched many of the district’s employee recognition and customer service initiatives that still thrive today – the ‘Hays High Five’ program, the annual employee of the year Ambassador Awards, and the district’s Customer Service Crew that provides training and listening summits for all of the district’s front-line and campus front-office staff. Prior to working with Hays CISD, Courson was a senior staff member for the state’s juvenile justice agency where she regularly worked to help troubled youth succeed, improve performance accountability, develop focused and useable research, and manage important legislative affairs.

Robinson has enjoyed a successful career as an educator for the past 24 years. He began teaching in 1999 at a school district in New Mexico. In 2002, he joined the Hays CISD family at Elm Grove Elementary as a 4th grade teacher.  Through 2011, he also taught 4th grade at Science Hall and Camino Real Elementary Schools. Robinson completed the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) Master Teacher opportunity and an administrative internship prior to becoming the assistant principal of Dahlstrom Middle School. In 2013, he was named the district’s assistant principal of the year. In 2014, he was promoted to principal at Buda Elementary School, then in 2021, was tapped to be part of the district’s HR team.

“I am excited to welcome Christina home to Hays CISD and to welcome Tim up to the next leadership level,” said Dr. Wright. “Christina has a demonstrated track record of strong district-level leadership, compassion, empathy, ability to build and maintain genuine relationships, and a passion for students and public education. I have no doubt she is ready to lead our human resources division as we continue to be an unrivaled employee-friendly school district.”

“Tim is a steady hand in Hays CISD who has forged relationships with the community and the district family. He is a talented leader who knows how to solve problems, celebrate successes, and serve the needs of our employees, parents, students, and community,” said Dr. Wright. “Both of our new HR leaders have the human touch that is essential in a human resources department and I am proud that they are both products of Hays CISD.”

Courson holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the American University School of International Service in Washington, D.C., and a Master of Science in Leadership and Change from the St. Edward’s University Graduate School of Business in Austin. She is also a graduate of the Holdsworth Center District Leadership Program, earned a Certificate in Public Communications Strategies from the University of Texas at Austin, and completed a summer abroad learning opportunity in Korean Studies in Seoul, South Korea.

Robinson holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Texas State University in San Marcos. He earned his bachelor’s degree, majoring in education, from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Prior to his career in education, Robinson served in the United States Navy, earning a national defense medal for service during Operation Desert Storm.

Courson replaces the previous HR director who retired and Robison replaces the previous deputy who accepted a promotion in another district earlier in the year.