Hays CISD superintendent lands Frisco job

On Nov. 19, the Frisco ISD board of trustees announced Hays CISD Superintendent Jeremy Lyon was the lone finalist for its vacant superintendent position.

In Texas, being named the lone finalist for a superintendent position is equivalent to landing the job.

Lyon has served as the district's superintendent for three years. In his time as superintendent, Lyon implemented a five-year strategic plan, led the district through a series of education spending cuts by the Texas Legislature and furthered the district's eco-friendly initiatives to the point that Texas Disposal Systems—the district's waste services provider—now believes Hays to be the only district in the nation with each of its schools recycling and composting.

"Well, I got a very unique opportunity," Lyon said. "I was offered the opportunity to lead Frisco ISD, which has been under the leadership of Rick Reedy, who is one of the most respected, longstanding superintendents in the state of Texas. It's just a rare opportunity that presented itself, and that's what had me interested. When they selected me, it was just a matter of 'you don't turn that down.'"

Lyon said he hopes to infuse the district's culture with his personal leadership, but he is in no rush to force an agenda on Frisco ISD.

"One of the things that's most important when you go to a new district is that you have to do your homework on the district you're going into," Lyon said. "In this case, I'm going into a district that's clicking on all cylinders. I need to go and listen and learn before I try to bring something in."

Frisco ISD is the fastest-growing district in the nation and is expected to enroll more than 43,000 students next year, Lyon said.

"Congratulations to Dr. Lyon," Hays CISD board President Willie Tenorio said in a news release. "This is a very exciting and challenging next chapter in his career. We are proud of his achievement and grateful for the leadership he has provided our school district the past three years."

According to the release, Frisco school board President Renee Ehmke said Lyon will begin his new job Jan. 7. Hays CISD must now decide if it wants to appoint an interim superintendent and what the parameters of a superintendent search will entail.