Lytle named Wallace Middle School Principal

At the June 2, 2021, board meeting, the Hays Consolidated Independent School District (Hays CISD) Board of Trustees approved hiring longtime Hays CISD educator Joanne Lytle as the new principal for Wallace Middle School. Lytle has worked Hays CISD for more than a decade.

“I’m very happy to announce our selection of Joanne Lytle as the new Wallace principal,” said Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright. “She is a valued part of the Hays CISD family; and, during her years of experience as an administrator, she has developed a strong sense of leadership, high expectations for student success, and a talent for bringing out the best in her staff.”

Lytle began her career in education in 2006 as a high school math teacher in Balmorhea, Texas, which is about an hour west of Fort Stockton.

In 2009, after having twins, Lytle moved to the Austin area and joined Hays CISD as a math teacher at Live Oak Academy High School.

In addition to teaching, during her time in Hays CISD, she has also served as an instructional strategist and the lead assistant principal at Lehman High School, where she is currently the academic dean.

“As a leader, I aspire to establish a school culture and educational program conducive to student learning and socialization. I seek to promote staff professional growth and development, as well as teamwork and cooperation,” said Lytle, who describes herself as a dedicated administrator with experience in planning and coordinating the academic, administrative, and support activities of public schools. She is also skilled in supervising staff operations, establishing special programs, and determining areas of opportunity in order to provide a stimulating, safe, and motivating learning environment.

As the academic dean at Lehman, Lytle supervises a diverse group of staff, as well as the academic programming for the school. She coordinated the creation of a master schedule for more than 100 teachers, organized all testing and training on campus, and initiated systemic changes for multiple programs.

She leads the mathematics, science, and counseling departments. Additionally, her responsibilities include supervising different school programs that have strengthened the academic performance of the school, such as academics, response to intervention, and gifted and talented.

Lytle holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Secondary Mathematics Education from New Mexico State University and a Master’s of Arts with an emphasis on educational leadership from Concordia Lutheran University.

Lytle replaces current Wallace Middle School principal Sarah Hodges, who has accepted a promotion in another school district.