Hays CISD Board Of Trustees Hires Two New Principals

In addition to her campus leadership duties, the district often relies on DiPalma to spearhead professional development opportunities and to provide expert insight into planning and curriculum decisions.

At the Sept. 25 board meeting, the Hays Consolidated Independent School District (Hays CISD) Board of Trustees unanimously approved hiring two new principals.

The district board of trustees unanimously approved the hiring of Alisa DiPalma as the new principal for Tobias Elementary School and Joy Philpott as the new principal of Tom Green Elementary.

DiPalma has been an educator in Hays CISD for a decade and a half and is proud of the Hays legacy of her family. Her husband is a graduate of Hays High School and her two older children graduated from Hays and Lehman High Schools, respectively. Additionally, DiPalma is the first member of her family to earn a college degree – an inspiration for all to pursue dreams and to never stop learning.

“This is wonderful news for Tobias Elementary,” said Tim Savoy, Hays CISD public information officer. “Mrs. DiPalma is one of the best in the business. All of our parents and students know her at the campus, and all of her colleagues know her in the district. She is a champion for achieving outstanding results and is an exceptional leader.”

DiPalma began her education career as a 4th and 5th grade teacher in Arizona before moving to the Hays CISD community with her family. She started in the distri ct at Hemphill Elementary School in 2002 and became a 1st grade teacher at Tobias Elementary School in 2003. DiPalma taught at Tobias for three years before becoming an instructional strategist at Buda Elementary School.

She also served as a master teacher at Blanco Vista Elementary School before being named assistant principal of Tobias Elementary School in 2010. DiPalma also served as the 5th grade summer school principal in 2014 and 2015 and the bilingual summer school principal in 2016. In 2016, she was a finalist for the Hays CISD Assistant Principal of the Year. 

“I view a collaborative school community as essential to the education of students, with an emphasis on making diligent progress toward mastery of learning for every student a priority,” said DiPalma. “Through wise use of instructional time, setting high expectations for learning, and creating attainable and measureable goals for achievement, I know Tobias Elementary will be the school where students want to attend and teachers want to lead.”

In addition to her campus leadership duties, the district often relies on DiPalma to spearhead professional development opportunities and to provide expert insight into planning and curriculum decisions.

DiPalma holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University with an emphasis on Reading. This area informs her leadership and teaching approach as she believes that literacy is the cornerstone for academic progress. She received her master’s degree in Educational Administration and Leadership from Concordia University. DiPalma has been an active member of the community with her children, serving in volunteer capacities for Boy Scouts and Lehman High School Star Strutters Dance Team.

Philpott is a career educator with more than 20 years of experience as a teacher, campus leader, academic dean, and senior school district administrator.

“I am excited for Tom Green Elementary. Mrs. Philpott is an outstanding choice for the new campus principal,” said Tim Savoy, Hays CISD public information officer. “Mrs. Philpott is a professional with exceptional talent. She is wonderful with students, parents and staff members, and she knows what it takes to create engaging educational experiences. She will be able to continue the rich traditions that make Tom Green Elementary a point-of-pride for Hays CISD and help to bring new opportunities to the school.”

Philpott is a fifth-generation Texan who grew up and attended school in Saint Jo, Texas, where she was a member of a graduating class of just 18 students. She attended both undergrad and graduate school at the University of Mississippi from which she earned a bachelor’s degree in history and English, a Master’s in English, and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. 

Philpott’s career as a teacher began as a graduate instructor in the English department at the University of Mississippi and continued into K-12 education when she joined Mississippi Teacher Corps as a teacher at West Tallahatchie High School. 

After teaching at high schools in Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas, Mrs. Philpott moved into administration as an assistant principal at Lockhart High School.  She continued her career as academic dean of San Marcos High School and has been responsible for state assessment and accountability in San Marcos and then in Hays for the last ten years.

Mrs. Philpott has served as acting principal at Tom Green Elementary since the beginning of the school year and is delighted to join the Hornets in a more permanent capacity.  She is supported in her endeavors by her husband, Ben, two daughters, Winn and Tate, one dog, and one Siberian dwarf hamster.