Chris Maska is a highly respected attorney whose distinguished legal career spans more than three decades. His tenure at the Texas Education Agency (TEA) from 1994 to 2024 reflects a rare combination of legal acumen and institutional knowledge. Most recently serving as the Director of the Division of Hearings and Appeals, Chris led the TEA’s adjudicative functions related to cases arising under the Texas Education Code and teacher contractual disputes, supervising administrative law judges and certifying and training independent hearing examiners. Over the course of his service to the TEA, Chris drafted over 1300 Commissioner’s decisions, many of which have shaped the legal landscape of public education in the state of Texas.

In addition to his adjudicatory responsibilities, Chris served as the TEA’s Ethics Advisor, where he provided strategic legal counsel on matters of public ethics to both agency staff and the State Board of Education. In this role, his duties included creating and implementing Chapter 21 ethics training for independent hearing officers, advising on conflicts of interest standards, and guiding the development of internal rules governing fiduciary conduct, particularly within the management of the Permanent School Fund. He also served as the agency’s primary liaison to the Office of the Attorney General for appeals of Commissioner Decisions. Additionally, he provided general legal counsel for the State Board of Education both during and between meeting and advised the agency in numerous high-profile matters involving constitutional and administrative law.

Prior to joining TEA, Chris served as Assistant Attorney General in the General Counsel Division, where he represented many state agencies in administrative proceedings, while offering comprehensive legal guidance on Open Government, Regulatory Compliance, and Employment Law.

Chris has been Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the area of Administrative Law since 1997. He earned his J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and holds a master’s degree in Government from Claremont Graduate University. His academic background also includes graduate work in Philosophy at the University of St. Thomas and a cum laude B.A. in Politics from the University of Dallas, with earlier studies in International Relations at American University. This rigorous and interdisciplinary educational foundation informs his nuanced approach to legal reasoning and public service. Chris brings a wealth of insight and an unwavering commitment to public integrity to every aspect of his practice.

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• State Bar of Texas
• Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the area of Administrative Law since 1997