Barry Haenisch

Executive Director

Email: bhaenisch@tacsnet.org

(512) – 440 – 8227 x18

Get to know Barry:

After serving two different four-year terms on the TACS Executive Committee and one year as the Deputy Executive Director of TACS, Barry Haenisch has served the association as its Executive Director for eight years. He came to TACS full time after serving for 41 years as a teacher, coach, counselor, high school principal, and superintendent in small and mid-sized school districts in Texas.

A graduate of Eden High School in Eden, Texas, Mr. Haenisch attended and graduated from McMurry University where he met his wife, Linda. Teaching and coaching assignments took the couple to the Culberson County ISD in Van Horn, Texas, the Menard ISD, the McCamey ISD, and the Gruver ISD. In the Gruver ISD, Barry began his career in administration, first as the high school principal and then as the district’s superintendent. He also served as the superintendent of schools for the Merkel ISD and the Pampa ISD before retiring from public school work in 2012.

Barry and Linda have two children. Their son Kyle is a school counselor in the Austin ISD, and their daughter Kayce works at the Region 11 ESC. Both children were born in Van Horn and graduated from Gruver High School. Kayce’s son Charlie is the apple of the couple’s eye!
When he is not working, Barry enjoys “piddling around” on the family’s farm in McCulloch County, Texas.

Crystal Dockery

Deputy Executive Director

Email: cdockery@tacsnet.org

(512) – 440 – 8227 x11

Get to know Crystal:

Crystal Dockery has been associated with TACS in some form for the past 10 years. She served on various committees when she was a superintendent in Hunt ISD and joined TACS as Deputy Executive Director in June of 2018.

In her 32-year career in public education, Crystal served as a teacher and counselor in Amarillo ISD and River Road ISD. She left to begin working with the 64 school districts in Region 16 ESC as a Title I Consultant, Field Service Agent, and then Administrative Services working with Superintendents and providing School Board training. After more than a decade at the ESC, she joined Spearman ISD as an Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Student Support. Her first superintendency came in a place that is still very dear to her heart – Hunt ISD. She served for 7 years as the superintendent and all the other duties as assigned along the way. One of her proudest accomplishments during that time was passing a bond (after 2 attempts prior to her arriving), building more of a community presence back into the district, and the new construction projects that followed the vote of confidence from the community. She also loved the small school atmosphere and being able to see children every day either in her office or right outside the door.

Her parents encouraged visits to the public library from a very early age and she became a voracious reader. Her parents saved money to purchase encyclopedias in the home and weekly game nights taught math skills (Yahtzee), working together for the benefit of all, and how time is a wonderful way to show someone you love them. Starting her college career, she was a library science major until West Texas State University cut the program. She slid right into education, which allowed a merging of the literacy component and working with children.

She finished her bachelor’s degree and went straight into a master’s program for counseling and psychology, becoming a LPC and LPC supervisor. When her son was in middle school, she decided to go ahead and work on the doctorate she wanted through Texas Tech University and get her superintendent certificate. She completed that program and loved the discussions and opportunities to network with other educators and learn from and with them.

Her job here at TACS allows her to use her counseling skills, her field service experience, her lessons learned in administration – especially in a small school -- and still learn alongside friends from public school districts, education service centers, and corporate partners.

Outside of work, Crystal loves time with family and friends. Her son Clinton lives in the Dallas area and works as an acquisitions analyst. Her parents and sisters currently live in the Austin area. She loves to travel with friends and is always in for a good movie at the theater as long as she gets a frozen coke Icee and a big bucket of popcorn!

Kayla Khang

Administrative Assistant

Email: kkhang@tacsnet.org

(512) – 440 – 8227 x10

Get to know Kayla:

Kayla Khang is a new addition to the team, and began working with TACS In Spring of 2022 as an Administrative Assistant.

Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to fulfill a multitude of roles. She has 5+ years cumulative experience as a campaign and legislative staffer. She is a proud graduate of the 2020 Hnub Tshiab: Hmong Women Achieving Together Cohort; a program for young Hmong women who are emerging leaders in their industries. She is also currently a member of the 2021 Inaugural Cohort of Texas’s Pink Granite Political Mentorship Program, and The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies’ Legislative Leadership Academy.

In her free time Kayla enjoys paddle boarding on Ladybird Lake, practicing her Paj Ntaub (Traditional Hmong embroidery), and vintage/antique shopping.

Nelly Hernandez

Web Manager

Email: webmanager@tacsnet.org

(512) – 440 – 8227 x15

Get to know Nelly:

Nelly Hernandez is a current student at the University of Texas at Austin. She is pursuing a BA in American Studies and has completed the Elements of Computing certificate at the university. Nelly expects to graduate this spring as part of the class of 2022, Hook 'em!

Throughout her four-years at the university she has aquired a variety of skills in web development, app development, graphics and visualization and python and java. She has also been able to build up her skills in critical analysis,communications ( both verbally and written), and research and information gathering, to name a few. Here at TACS, Nelly is responsible for maintaing and editing all front-end and backend elements and design of the website. She has both a passion
for web develpment and web design and hopes to break into this work field in her future endeavors post graduation.

Outside of school and work, Nelly has volunteered locally at Caritas of Austin and outside of Austin at Scare for a Cure. At Caritas Nelly helped prepare lunches and snacks that would be handed out everyday and at Scare for a Cure she was a part
of the special effects team and helped install a variety of effects for the show. Aside from volunteering Nelly also loves to play tennis with her friends and spends time creating digital art and animations in her free time.