Dr. Paul Cruz
Dr. Paul Cruz serves as a professor of practice with the University of Texas at Austin and as co-director of the Cooperative Superintendency Program (CSP), which prepares future superintendents and executive school leaders to serve in leadership roles to meet the ever-changing needs in the public education system.
Prior to joining the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Cruz served as the superintendent of schools for the Austin Independent School District from 2014 to 2020, overseeing a district of 80,000 students and 11,000 employees in 130 schools. In this capacity, he regularly met with C-level decisionmakers throughout Texas and the nation. Under Dr. Cruz’s leadership, the Austin ISD graduation rate reached an all-time high, outperforming the state and nation, with two-thirds of graduates enrolling directly into college. Under his leadership, the district passed more than $1.5 billion of bonds to build additional schools and to provide needed improvements to all facilities.
Dr. Cruz developed, implemented and expanded a number of district initiatives, including the Creative Learning Initiative; dual-language programs in Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese; Early College High Schools; Family Resource Centers; Pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds; Social and Emotional Learning; STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math); Career Launch (Technology and Health Science); Montessori school; and a Facility Master Plan.
Dr. Cruz chaired the Texas Urban Council, comprised of the state’s major urban districts, and he served on the Executive Board of the Council of Great City Schools, a coalition of the largest urban districts in the nation. He served as a board member for the Austin Area Research Organization, Austin Ed Fund, and Austin Partners in Education.
Dr. Cruz began his career in education in 1987 ,working as a teacher, campus administrator, central office administrator and superintendent in Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Laredo. He also served as deputy commissioner for Dropout Prevention at the Texas Education Agency. He earned his undergraduate degree in English from the University of Texas at Austin, his master of science in Educational Administration from Corpus Christi State University, and his Ph.D. in educational leadership from the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Cruz brings a wealth of experiences and relationships to his client, helping to position them for success in the PK-12, higher education and municipal sectors.