Austyn Scruggs, Assistant Principal - 12th Grade Admin, HHS Communications, Student Activities
With a robust 14-year career in education, Ms. Scruggs brings extension classroom experience and a proven track record in utilizing technology from her previous role as an assistant principal with a neighboring district. Ms. Scruggs' leadership has notably led two schools to achieve the prestigious Apple Distinguished School designation. Her dynamic approach to educational leadership, in collaboration with her previous administrative team, has significantly enhanced school performance levels. Ms. Scruggs has consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to unite teachers, students, and the community toward shared goals, and we are excited to welcome her to HHS.
Marvin Townsend, Assistant Principal - 11th Grade Admin, 504 Coordinator, Alternative School, School Safety
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Townsend began his career as a social studies teacher in 1993; with highly impactful positions at Highland Oaks K-8, Southwind Middle School, and Bartlett High School. At Bartlett High, he served as an Assistant Principal for three years before being recruited to serve on the Shelby County School’s [Legacy] PIT Crew, a district-level position that worked one-on-one with teachers and principals to improve instruction across the county. After the merger-demerger, Townsend accepted a job as an Assistant Principal of Germantown High School (GHS) and then eventually the Vice Principal. By 2019, he had been promoted to the Senior Principalship of GHS. He has two children, both adopted, that attend Germantown Municipal Schools. Issac, a fourth grader at Riverdale School and Oscar, a sophomore at Houston High School remain at the center of his decision as well as his spare time. Townsend enjoys being outdoors, especially time out on the boat at the lake with his children and family.
Paul Ross, Assistant Principal - 10th Grade Admin, Parking/Traffic, Textbooks
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Mr. Ross joined Houston High School as an Assistant Principal after serving as the Principal of North Pontotoc Middle School in Mississippi. Prior to serving as Principal, Mr. Ross served 3 years as an Assistant Principal at Oxford High School and 9 years as a history teacher at White Station High School. Mr. Ross completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri- St. Louis with a degree in Secondary Education/Political Science and his graduate studies at Trevecca Nazarene University with a degree in Educational Leadership. He and his beautiful wife, Jerica, are the parents to three kids (River, Canyon, Meadow). In his down time, he enjoys the outdoors, great music, good 'Que, and making memories with his 3 children.
April Miller, Assistant Principal - 9th Grade Admin, ESE Administrator
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Mrs. Miller brings fifteen years of educational experience to the job. After spending a decade serving as a school counselor in Clarksville, Tennessee, she transitioned to serving in administrative roles in both Memphis and Nashville during the past five years. Miller holds her Ed.S in Instructional Leadership from Austin Peay State University, a Bachelors in Psychology, and a Masters in Counseling and Personnel. Currently, she serves as an adjunct professor in Human Performances at Southwest Tennessee Community College teaching others effective counseling techniques. In 2017, she published a book about the impact of non-academic factors on ACT scores, a long research project connecting her school counselor roots to her current role as a change-maker in administration. Miller has guided graduation teams of teachers, coaches, and school counselors around the work of improving graduation rates, Naviance, ACT Prep, and Ready Graduate metrics. Her husband, Scott Miller, is an exceptional education teacher in Bartlett Schools and she is a mother to three children. In her spare time, she is a devoted member of her church and enjoys singing.
Dr. Thomas Suchman, Assistant Principal - Attendance, Buses, Parking, and Lockers
Dr. Suchman left the Kansas City area (Lees Summit, MO) to attend Rhodes College and stayed in Memphis.
Graduating with a teaching license and a degree in English, Dr. Suchman was thrilled to start teaching at HHS early in his career. Determined to never stop learning, Suchman completed a masters degree in education at Cumberland University and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy at Vanderbilt University.
When not teaching, Dr. Suchman enjoys reading, growing his record collection, studying cinema, playing with his dogs, swimming and cycling. He is also an avid fan of punk rock and spent years playing, touring, and recording with different bands.
