Dr. Cynthia Wilson, an experienced leader of schools, has been appointed as Dallas ISD’s Chief of Staff, effective Oct. 1, 2015.
Wilson is currently the superintendent of the Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5, a 7,000-student school district in South Carolina. In Dallas ISD, she will report directly to Interim Superintendent Michael Hinojosa and assist in supporting the strategic work of the district.
“Dr. Wilson is a great addition to our team. She is experienced in working with both school boards and administrative teams in large urban school systems,” Hinojosa said. “She is a former college student of mine, so I know what she brings to the table. Cynthia has all the ingredients needed for success, most notably tremendous people skills. Dr. Wilson is the right person for the right time here in Dallas ISD.”
Wilson has served as superintendent for six years in Orangeburg, leading that school district through many initiatives similar to those underway in Dallas ISD including increasing the graduation rate, improving physical campuses, developing a limited version of school choice and supporting an effort that supports struggling male students of color.
Connections to Texas also dot Dr. Wilson’s resume. She served as a teacher, principal and both a regional and area superintendent in the state’s largest school system, Houston ISD, over 22 years. She was highly regarded for her support of a diverse and multilingual student enrollment, earning high marks through that district’s performance pay system.
Wilson graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in psychology. She later earned a master’s degree from the University of Houston, and her doctorate in educational leadership from South Carolina State University.
