Dear Hill Country Families,

We can’t wait to have all of you back on campus next week! Our team has been gathering over the past two weeks, first with our new faculty and staff, and now with our entire team. There is an air of excitement on campus, counting down the days until our classrooms are full of students once again! And I cannot wait to celebrate our 30th anniversary with you this fall.

God is bringing some amazing people to the HillCo team. The latest additions of these new hires are no exception, including for our college guidance, advancement team, and finance office.

College Counseling

We are excited to welcome Ashlyn Brown to our college advising team alongside Jessica Pyo. Ashlyn brings strong experience in communication, student ministry, operations, and relational leadership, having previously served as a college ministry administrator at Antioch Community Church in Waco, and as a YoungLife leader. She holds a B.A. in Corporate Communication and Religion from Baylor University. We are grateful for the warmth, organization, and care she brings as she guides our high school students and families through the college process.

Advancement Department

Director of Development and Alumni Relations: Diana Jones, who previously split her time as part-time Admissions Coordinator and Development Coordinator, has been promoted to Director of Development and Alumni Relations. Before joining Hill Country, Diana served as Church Mobilizer for World Relief Texas and spent a decade leading outreach, global strategy, and ministry initiatives at Hill Country Bible Church. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from Texas A&M University and brings a rich background in donor relations and strategic partnerships to her new role. 

Kimberly Burke will assume the part-time Development Coordinator role. We are continuing our search for a full-time Executive Assistant. If you know anyone who would be a great fit, please let me know. 

We are excited to welcome HillCo mom, Paige Turner, as our part-time Admissions Coordinator.

Director of Marketing and Communications: Christine Jenkins is stepping into the role, succeeding Justin Girdler. Since joining us in 2021, Christine has served in various roles and is a Hill Country alumna, which gives her a deep understanding of our school community. She has helped support record enrollment, strengthen alumni engagement, direct the Parent and Student Ambassador Program, and coordinate more than 220 school events, programs, academic activities, and field trips.

Prior to Hill Country, Christine built a strong career in marketing and event leadership with National Instruments and IBM’s experience marketing agency. She holds a B.S. in Communication Studies from The University of Texas at Austin. 

Digital Content Specialist: Justin Girdler is transitioning to the role of Digital Content Specialist. He will tell our school’s story through video, photography, social media, and our website. With his sharp marketing eye and creative talent, he will help produce content that communicates the school’s mission, culture, and community to strengthen enrollment, retention, and community engagement.

Finance Department: We’re pleased to announce that Lucy Hsu has been promoted to our Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Rob Gary, who is retiring after five years of distinguished leadership. Rob, who brought deep financial expertise to Hill Country, will remain on staff part-time as an advisor during the coming school year to support the transition. Lucy joined Hill Country as controller in 2023, building much of the school’s financial infrastructure. A CPA, with a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Southern California and an M.A. in Theological Studies from Fuller Seminary, she spent nearly a decade in Big Four public accounting and 12 years as a classical homeschool educator. Her financial expertise and dedication to classical Christian education make her an excellent fit for this important role.

Athletics Department

Our nationwide search for a new Director of Athletics is officially underway. We will keep you posted as candidate interviews progress.

God is assembling a dream team for the upcoming year, and we can’t wait to partner with you and your students on this educational journey!

In Christ,

Eric DeVries, Head of School and High School Principal