Hutto school superintendent resigns after seven months. Here's who's taking over temporarily.

Keri Heath, Austin American-Statesman
Updated ·1 min read
Hutto robotics UIL trophies sit on a table in the Robotics classrooms at Hutto High School last year. Hutto school Superintendent Raúl Peña abruptly resigned Thursday night.
Hutto robotics UIL trophies sit on a table in the Robotics classrooms at Hutto High School last year. Hutto school Superintendent Raúl Peña abruptly resigned Thursday night.

Hutto school Superintendent Raúl Peña abruptly tendered his resignation Thursday night during a regular school board meeting after only seven months on the job.

The board accepted Peña's resignation, which will be effective July 31, and it also approved personal leave time for Peña effective immediately. The board also named Cara Malone, assistant superintendent of human resources, as acting superintendent. Malone has worked for the Hutto district since 2022.

Cara Malone
Cara Malone

Board President Billie Logiudice said in a letter that the board will keep the community informed about its superintendent search process.

"We have a great leadership team in place that will continue the positive momentum as we make decisions in the best interest of the district and for students, while staying focused on our strategic plan and goals," Logiudice said in the letter.

Peña began working for the Hutto district in September, and at the time he was hailed as the school district's first Hispanic man in the top leadership post.

Peña replaced Celina Estrada Thomas, who had been with Hutto schools since 2017, as the district's top leader.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin area superintendent abruptly resigns after seven months on job