Houston, Texas, United States, November 2025 — Houston Independent School District (HISD) has officially announced Norma A. Castillo as its Chief Human Resources Officer, following her successful tenure as Interim CHRO. In this pivotal leadership role, Norma will oversee the district’s comprehensive human resources strategy, encompassing talent acquisition, employee engagement, compensation, and organizational development. As the largest school district in Texas—and one of the largest in the United States—HISD serves more than 25,000 employees across 274 campuses, and Norma’s appointment reflects a commitment to excellence in educational talent management.
Norma’s journey with Houston ISD has been defined by rapid progression and significant impact. Prior to her official appointment as CHRO, she served as Interim Chief Human Resources Officer, where she led HR transformation initiatives, optimized central HR systems, and implemented strategic compensation frameworks to support thousands of teachers and administrators. Earlier, as Deputy Chief of HR and Senior Executive Director of Support, she played a crucial role in strengthening organizational alignment, budget efficiency, and stakeholder collaboration across critical district functions including HR, IT, and operations.
Before joining HISD, Norma contributed her expertise to the Texas Education Agency as Director of Effective District Framework Talent Implementation, supporting statewide initiatives to strengthen educator recruitment and retention systems. This experience deepened her understanding of statewide education policy and talent frameworks.
Her earlier tenure at the Austin Independent School District further solidified her leadership in HR innovation. She served in multiple senior capacities—including Assistant Superintendent of Human Capital Systems, Executive Director of Talent Acquisition, and Director of Talent Acquisition—overseeing talent systems for more than 11,000 employees and 125 schools. At Austin ISD, she led recruitment and retention strategies, advanced HR technology integration, and championed diversity-driven hiring practices.
Before that, she was Director of Talent Acquisition and Development at Harlingen Consolidated Independent Schools, where she built educator pipelines and leadership development cohorts. Her career also includes impactful years at Region One Education Service Center, where she supported leadership training for superintendents and principals, and Los Fresnos School District, where she served as Elementary Principal of an exemplary-rated campus.
Norma holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of Texas at Brownsville, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Texas A&M University–Kingsville.
About Houston ISD
The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is the largest public school system in Texas and the eighth largest in the United States, serving over 186,000 students. HISD is committed to providing an equitable and rigorous educational experience, empowering students to become critical thinkers, visionary leaders, and active contributors to their communities. Through a focus on academic excellence, leadership development, and community collaboration, HISD prepares its students to thrive in a globally competitive environment.
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