Crystal Hermesch
Current Role: School Finance Officer, Education Service Center Region 20
Research Area: The relationship between performance pay, student outcomes, and teacher retention
Previously, she has served the students, teachers, staff and parents at Comal Independent School District as their Chief Financial Officer. Crystal has held key positions in the operations and business functions at Comal ISD. She began her educational career as the financial literacy teacher at Kinder Ranch Elementary, bookkeeper at Spring Branch Middle School, Comal ISD Bond Accountant, and Executive Director of School Finance. Furthermore, she has been the local PTA President and served on the Comal ISD District PTA council. As the Executive Director and CFO, she led the successful passage of Bond 2021 and 2023. In addition, she was instrumental in the passage of the Voter Approved Tax Ratification Election (VATRE) in 2021 which led to the approval of a $.07 increase in the Maintenance and Operations Tax Rate for the explicit purpose of increasing teacher compensation.
Crystal is most proud of her own three children who are all graduates of the Comal ISD, Smithson Valley High School. Colt, her oldest, graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and currently serves as an Officer in the US Navy. Curtis is currently a student at Texas A&M University studying nuclear engineering, and Catilyn is at the University of Texas at Austin. Crystals husband is a retired US Air Force Colonel with distinguished service.
Crystal is a proud graduate of Wetmore High School in rural Northeast Kansas. She attended Kansas State majoring in Accounting, and she is a devout Kansas State sports fan. She received her Masters in Accounting at Oklahoma State and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education at the University of Texas at Austin.
Crystal is interested in the intersection of school finance, academic performance, and efficiency. She welcomes perspectives that enrich her understanding of school operations, academics and student performance.
Research Area: The relationship between performance pay, student outcomes, and teacher retention
Previously, she has served the students, teachers, staff and parents at Comal Independent School District as their Chief Financial Officer. Crystal has held key positions in the operations and business functions at Comal ISD. She began her educational career as the financial literacy teacher at Kinder Ranch Elementary, bookkeeper at Spring Branch Middle School, Comal ISD Bond Accountant, and Executive Director of School Finance. Furthermore, she has been the local PTA President and served on the Comal ISD District PTA council. As the Executive Director and CFO, she led the successful passage of Bond 2021 and 2023. In addition, she was instrumental in the passage of the Voter Approved Tax Ratification Election (VATRE) in 2021 which led to the approval of a $.07 increase in the Maintenance and Operations Tax Rate for the explicit purpose of increasing teacher compensation.
Crystal is most proud of her own three children who are all graduates of the Comal ISD, Smithson Valley High School. Colt, her oldest, graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and currently serves as an Officer in the US Navy. Curtis is currently a student at Texas A&M University studying nuclear engineering, and Catilyn is at the University of Texas at Austin. Crystals husband is a retired US Air Force Colonel with distinguished service.
Crystal is a proud graduate of Wetmore High School in rural Northeast Kansas. She attended Kansas State majoring in Accounting, and she is a devout Kansas State sports fan. She received her Masters in Accounting at Oklahoma State and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education at the University of Texas at Austin.
Crystal is interested in the intersection of school finance, academic performance, and efficiency. She welcomes perspectives that enrich her understanding of school operations, academics and student performance.
