After six years as superintendent of Austin Independent School District, Dr. Paul Cruz has resigned. Although no official date has been released for when he will officially leave office, Dr. Cruz has accepted a job at the University of Texas of Austin, his alma mater. 

“Serving as superintendent of schools for six years alongside each and every one of you, in one of the best urban school districts in the nation, has been the most exciting, inspiring and rewarding experience,” Cruz wrote in an email. “It has truly been an honor to serve as superintendent of Austin’s dynamic and high-performing school district.”

As superintendent, Dr. Cruz led a district with almost 81,000 students.

“Dr. Cruz was a very visible superintendent, and he really was an advocate for students, teachers, and education,” Academic Dean Susan Leos said. “He was also an advocate in the community, wanting Austin to be one community that worked together.”

In an email to AISD employees Dr. Cruz indicated that during his term as superintendent he worked hard to ensure that all AISD students were prepared for college, career, and life when they graduated.

“To me, one of his most important goals was making students graduate college and career ready, and I would like that goal to be continued,” Leos said. “I think that is one of our most important endeavors as educators: to make sure we are meeting the needs of all of our students, and that they are ready to take whatever next step it is after they graduate.”

In addition to his work for student post-graduation preparation, Dr. Cruz also expressed his pride in his team’s work on the $1.05 billion bond approved to modernize AISD facilities. 

“I can confidently say that, as a team, we have transformed the urban school experience- one cutting-edge initiative at a time,” Dr. Cruz said. “I am humbled by the trust you have placed in me as superintendent, and by the opportunity to serve our students, staff, and families.”

As the district begins the search for a new superintendent, Leos explained that a new superintendent needs to understand the needs of the student body and community of AISD.

“I think that with our Austin community growing and changing the way it is, whoever becomes the superintendent needs to have that connection with the larger community in Austin,” Leos said. “I thank Dr. Cruz for his visibility, his presence in the schools, and his support of vast and different students and programs.”