DSISD hires two new administrators

At the July 26 meeting, the Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees approved the hiring of two positions in the Department of Learning and Innovation: Tisha Kolek as Director of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Health Services and Dr. Alicia Maphies as Director of Secondary Education.

“We are excited to have Tisha Kolek and Dr. Alicia Maphies joining the Department of Learning and Innovation at Dripping Springs ISD,” said Assistant Superintendent for Learnin and Innovation Dr. Karen Kidd. “The addition of these positions allow our district and department to place extra focus on curriculum and the physical and mental well-being of our students. Both bring two decades of experience working in education and will be great assets to our fast-growth district.”

Kolek will oversee the planning and implementation of a district-wide comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program. She also will provide leadership, coordination, and support for the district’s health services program, with emphasis on social-emotional support to schools and fostering physical and mental health and wellness for students.

Kolek joins DSISD after serving four years as the Education Service Center Region 13 Coordinator for Counseling Services in Austin. In this role, she provided counseling support for 57 school districts and 19 charter schools, and created and implemented mental health workshops for licensed professionals and counselors. Kolek also co-led the work for the Region 13 Mental Health Conference and School Safety Summit.

Prior to her position with ESC Region 13, Kolek spent four years as the Director of Counseling Services at Taylor ISD, and worked as a high school counselor for 12 years with Round Rock ISD, Hutto ISD, Rockdale ISD, and Kerrville ISD.

Kolek earned her bachelor’s degree (Education) from Angelo State University and her master’s degree (Counseling) from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

As Director of Secondary Education, Maphies will provide leadership and coordination for an aligned and articulated instructional program among the district’s three secondary campuses, including responsibilities in the area of curriculum and professional development.

Maphies arrives in Dripping Springs after serving five years as the principal for Centennial High School in Frisco ISD. Prior to that position, she spent eight years as the assistant principal for CHS, while also serving three years as an adjunct professor at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Maphies also served as the Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate Coordinator and District Foreign Language Coordinator in Allen ISD.

Maphies received her bachelor’s degree (English and Secondary Education) from Michigan State University, master’s degrees (Education and Educational Administration) from California State University and the University of North Texas, and a doctorate (Educational Leadership and Superintendent Certification) from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Both Kolek and Maphies will begin their new roles in August.