District Announces Leadership Updates with Burns, Willoughby, and Brister
The Hutto ISD Board of Trustees approved three staff leadership changes for the 2021-22 school year at its regular meeting Thursday, July 29.
Mr. Ryan Burns, who has served as associate principal at Hutto High School for the past two years, will take over as the new principal of Farley Middle School. He replaces Mark Willoughby, who assumes the new role of Director of Facilities Planning and Capital Improvements. In addition, Mr. Thomas Brister has been promoted to Director of Maintenance.
All three changes are effective immediately.
Mr. Burns, who is starting his 17th year in education, came to Hutto in 2016 from Pflugerville ISD where he was a teacher and head baseball coach at Connally HS. He also taught in Austin ISD. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University and has a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Lamar University. It is a family of Hippos for Burns - his wife, Mallory, teaches at HHS and is head volleyball coach; son, Bryce, will be a junior and plays football and baseball; daughter, Brynn attends Little Hippos.
"I want to thank the Hutto ISD School Board and Dr. Estrada Thomas for giving me the opportunity to lead a great campus like Farley Middle School,” said Burns. “I am excited to partner with our staff, students and parents on creating opportunities for everyone to reach their potential and be involved in our community."
Mr. Willoughby served as the principal of FMS the last two years after spending 18 years in Bastrop ISD. He graduated from Howard Payne University in 1992 with a degree in English and physical education. He then obtained a Master’s in Education Administration from Concordia University in 2008. His first 16 years in education were in the classroom as an English teacher and head baseball coach. After earning his Master's Degree, he transitioned into different administrative roles at the high school, middle school, and district levels.
Willoughby’s wife, Nicole, is a counselor at Bastrop HS. The couple has two children, Alicia, a student at Baylor Law School, and Mark Edward, a junior at Howard Payne University.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to support Hippo Nation in this new position, and I look forward to working with community stakeholders in making Hutto ISD the premier choice in education now and in the future,” said Mr. Willoughby.
Mr. Brister has faithfully served Hippo Nation for 17 years, most recently as Maintenance Supervisor. His perseverance and commitment to Hippo Nation is an example of how Hutto ISD grows leaders from within.
“In my 17 years with the district, I’ve been lucky enough to be a supervisor for 14 of them,” said Brister. “Through the 14 years, we have built a great team in all departments. I’m excited to continue working with all the teams and the great administrative leadership we have. I’m also excited about where the district is headed and the future of Hippo Nation!”
Ryan Burns
Mark Willoughby
Thomas Brister