Middle School No. 17 was named after Dr. Cheryl Corbett Salyards, who retired from CFISD in June 2010 after 36 years in public education.

Dr. Salyards served district students and staff for 32 years as supervisor for the cooperative for the hearing impaired; coordinator of programming and senior director of special education; and assistant superintendent for educational support services.

In July 2003, Dr. Salyards was selected as the assistant to the superintendent by former superintendent Rick Berry. She assumed the role of associate superintendent for governmental relations and communication in July 2007. Prior to joining CFISD, she was a teacher in Houston ISD.