Leadership

I bring more than 20 years of experience in education, working with students from Kindergarten through 8th grade in various roles and learning environments. I have served as a 5th and 6th-grade teacher, a K-8 Instructional Coach/Staff Developer, a Middle School Vice Principal at the Upper Middle School in Montgomery Township School District, Principal at J.F. Tatem Elementary School in Haddonfield, New Jersey, and Assistant Principal at Hill Country Middle School. I am now beginning my second year as Principal at Hill Country Middle School.

Middle school is both a challenging and exciting place to work. It is filled with transitions and new experiences, whether physical and emotional changes, academic pressure, or navigating social dynamics. However, it is also exciting because each day, we facilitate personal growth, inspire intellectual curiosity, and model building relationships with others, helping our students be prepared globally as they enter the world. I want to positively impact all facets of learning for our students.

DEGREES HELD, UNIVERSITIES ATTENDED: Bachelor of Arts, Oral Roberts University; Masters in Human Resources and Administration, Towson University
JOINED EISD: 2022
PREVIOUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS: Haddonfield School District, NJ; Montgomery Township School District, NJ; Baltimore City Public Schools, MD; New Haven Public Schools, CT
 

I am excited for another great year as an Assistant Principal for Hill Country Middle School and work with the incredible staff to continue to make HCMS a special place for our students and community. This is my 33nd year in education and 7th in administration. Prior to joining the staff here at HCMS I served as an Assistant Principal in Lake Travis ISD where I had the honor to open the new Bee Cave Middle School campus following one year at Lake Travis Middle School. Previously, I spent 10 years at Westlake High School as a Head Basketball Coach and AP Psychology/Teen Leadership teacher. My other experience in the Austin area, besides growing up here, includes being Head Basketball/Cross Country Coach and Psychology/Sociology teacher at Austin High. I spent the first 7 years of my career at New Braunfels Middle School as a teacher and coach so I have enjoyed returning to work with students at the age when it is so important to develop good character and decision-making skills.  My wife Laurie is also a teacher in Eanes ISD and has been a 4th-grade teacher at Forest Trail Elementary since 2002. We have two daughters, Megan (WHS ‘16 & Texas A&M ‘20) and Emily (WHS ‘20 & Texas A&M ‘24). When I'm not at school I enjoy running the trail at Town Lake and live music.

PREVIOUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS: Lake Travis ISD, Austin ISD, Keller ISD, New Braunfels ISD

I have lived in Austin since 2014 and started my teaching career at West Ridge Middle School as a 7th grade science teacher. I am originally from the suburbs outside of Philadelphia and went to Penn State University where I majored in Secondary Education with Biology and minored in Psychology. Throughout my teaching career at WRMS, I served as the science department head, the National Junior Honors Society co-sponsor, and a member of the WRMS Equity Team. District-wide, I have served on the District Leadership Team, I was a member of the fifth cohort of the Institute for Excellence, and I was named the Eanes ISD District Educator of the Year for the 2020-2021 school year. In 2023, I earned my Master's Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington and I am so excited to begin my leadership journey at Hill Country Middle School.

DEGREES HELD, UNIVERSITIES ATTENDED: Bachelor of Science, Penn State University, Master of Education, University of Texas at Arlington

JOINED EISD: 2014