Denise Hays

Past Chair , Walsh Gallegos

Denise Hays, a shareholder in the law firm of Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green & Treviño, P.C., is a 1989 graduate of St. Mary’s University School of Law. Before attending law school, she received her Bachelor of Science in Education (Special Education) from Abilene Christian University, and was a special education teacher in the public school system. She also received a Master’s in Education (School Counseling) from Hardin Simmons University.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Hays was a staff attorney for four years with the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). She served as a hearing officer for school boards across the state assisting them in conducting local termination, nonrenewal, and grievance hearings.

A popular and frequent speaker at conferences and workshops, Ms. Hays has trained hundreds of board members, special education directors, administrators and teachers. She began her legal career as a briefing, then research, then attorney for the Honorable Austin O. McCloud, and finally, former Chief Justice of the 11th Court of Appeals.

In addition, Ms. Hays has published and/or presented numerous articles for the Texas School Administrators’ Legal Digest conferences, the University of Texas School of Law conferences, the LRP national conferences and the National Employment Law Institute (NELI) and frequently lectures at Universities.

She is the former chair of the School Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and served on the board for several years. Her practice emphasizes representation of school districts in the areas of special education; student related issues and the development of special education cooperatives or shared services arrangements.