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Kristyn Hunt Cathey, APR, was hired as the first Chief of Communications & PR for Alief ISD in July 2023. Before accepting this role to lead her own department, she served as the as the Director of Communications for Goose Creek CISD for two years. Her foray into school public relations began in her hometown of Port Arthur ISD, where she served as the first Media Communications Specialist for 11 years. She was a one-woman show and served as the creator of the department.

Before she began working full-time for the PAISD, she began her communications career in 2004 ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University, where she taught classes in Public Speaking, Media Writing, Business and Professional Writing, TV News Writing and Practicum as well as served as an on-campus advisor for her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta. Though she accepted a position in 2009 with her childhood school district, she did not want to leave her love of teaching behind and continued as an adjunct throughout the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ system. She continues to teach online and is currently developing a course for ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ’s Strategic Communications graduate program.

In addition to her jobs, she has served on various committees throughout her community and beyond, including the Press Club of Southeast Texas, Port Arthur Education Foundation, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Texas School Public Relations Association, and the National School Public Relations Association. She recently ended her tenure as the Houston-Beaumont Area Vice-President for TSPRA and was installed as the organization’s first Black member to be elected as the TSPRA President-Elect during their 2024 conference in February. She also earned the coveted Accreditation in Public Relations on July 29, 2022; putting her in an elite group of public professionals. She was honored to serve as part of the inaugural class of the Southeast Texas 40 Under 40 and the National School Public Relations Association 35 Under 35; both in 2014.

She is a life member of the Southern A&M University Houston Alumni Chapter and was recently asked to serve as the 2023-2025 journalist for the Houston Metropolitan Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

She is a proud wife, mother of one, daughter and friend.
Kristyn’s philosophy is that of the famous Booker T. Washington, founder of Tuskegee University, where she attended her first two years of college. “Opportunities never come a second time, nor do they wait for our leisure."