About Houston High » Houston High Faculty and Staff

Houston High Faculty and Staff

John Taylor
Principal
 
Mr. John Taylor began his career in education in 1992 as a History teacher at East High School. While at East, he coached football and baseball. After teaching at East for three years, he accepted a history teaching position at Houston, teaching both standard and AP classes. While at Houston he has coached football, wrestling, and softball. Mr. Taylor has been an Assistant Principal since 2004 and began his tenure as principal in 2018.
 
Mr. Taylor’s educational background includes a Bachelors of History from Rhodes College and a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University. He is married to Marje, a Special Education Teacher for Bartlett City Schools and has two children, Matthew (Class of 2015) and Charlotte (Class of 2018).
 William Gillespie
William Gillespie
Vice Principal 
 
With over 25 years of experience in high school education, Mr. Gillespie brings expertise in instructional leadership, testing coordination, and curriculum supervision to the HHS administration team.
 
Mr. Gillespie attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and earned his B.A. in English Literature before completing his M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction in 1996. He additionally holds an EdS in Educational Administration from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
 
Shannon Blackburn
Assistant Principal- 10th Grade admin, Communications, ESE Co-Teach Admin, Testing, Safety
 
Ms. Blackburn serves as an assistant principal with a focus on assisting teachers' development of instruction and organizational expertise which she fine-tuned in Kentucky’s Fayette County Schools as a school administrator.  She brings a wealth of leadership experience and a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Missouri.  
 
Ms. Blackburn comes with over 15 years of experience in education and has served in various leadership roles, including District-level Instructional Coach, Assistant Principal, and most recently, Principal of Ashland Elementary School in Lexington.  In her many roles, Ms. Blackburn is foremost an instructional leader, well-versed in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to meet the needs of all students as well as identifying interventions to support their individualized learning.
 
Miller bio
April Miller
Assistant Principal- Exceptional Education

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.
 
 
 
 
 
Paul Ross
Assistant Principal- 12th Grade admin, parking/traffic, textbooks
 
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.
 
Dr. Thomas Suchman
Assistant Principal- 11th grade admin, attendance, buses, 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.

townsend
Marvin Townsend
Assistant Principal- 9th grade admin, 504 coordinator, Alternative School

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.
 
Comas, Maria Clerical - Financial Secretary [email protected]
Craig, Tamika Clerical - Visitors, Raptor, Medical
 
Griffith, Teresa Clerical - SPED Secretary [email protected]
Simpson, Amanda Clerical - Guidance, Records
 
Pecor, Nancy Clerical -Attendance  [email protected]
Burton, Susie Clerical - Attendance [email protected]
Thompson, Natalie Clerical - Payroll, Substitutes [email protected]
Whitworth, Dana Clerical - Financial Assistant [email protected]
     
Becker, Chad Athletic Director [email protected]
Espinoza, Manuel Plant Manager [email protected]
Jones, Earvin Plant Manager [email protected]
     
Spain, Traci SEL [email protected]
Waldrup, Celeste School Nurse [email protected]
     
Manuel, Robert TV Media Engineer [email protected]
Nutt, Tyler TV Program Director [email protected]
For password resets, general troubleshooting, or technology questions:
Email [email protected]  or call (901)756-2323

  School Technology Support  
Young, Cathy Instructional Technology Coach
 
 
Tingle, Lorrie Alternative School Instructor [email protected]
Diroff, Suzy Alt School Assistant  
 
Fisher, Denise Counseling - Intervention [email protected] Office: 901-756-2370 x 6042
Haddow, Dan Counseling/Instructional/Leadership Support [email protected]  
Handy, Beth Counseling - 10th Office: 901-756-2370 x 6046
Kinney, Brenda Counseling - 12th [email protected] Office: 901-756-2370 x 6044
Kreitz, Ashley
Counseling-
Postsecondary Readiness (9th & 11th)
[email protected]  
Riggan, Linda Counseling - 11th [email protected] Office: 901-756-2370 x 6043
Schmitt, Sara
Counseling-
Postsecondary Readiness (10th & 12th)
[email protected] Office: 901-756-2370 x 6019
Skaggs, Emily School Psychologist [email protected]  
Wells, Lana Counseling - 9th [email protected] Office: 901-756-2370 x 6045
       
Underwood, Clint [email protected]
Wilder, Ruth [email protected]
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Alsbrook, Beth [email protected]
Bell, Steve [email protected]
Boggan, Cristy [email protected]
Boyer, Tim [email protected]
Camp, Addison
Coleman, Lesley
Forrester, Randy [email protected]
Houston, Bill [email protected]
Juneau, Craig [email protected]
Kinler, Kendall
Phillips, Christa [email protected]
Rose, Gretchen [email protected]
Thomas, Monica [email protected]
Uhiren, Chad [email protected]
Wartenberg, Gerry [email protected]
Becker, Chad [email protected]
Brookshire, Courtney [email protected]
Chandler, NaToya
Condra, Sarah [email protected]
Cox, Andrea [email protected]
Holt, Edward
Hunter, Ginny [email protected]
McKinney, Valerie [email protected]
Middlekauff, Jason [email protected]
O'Brien, James
O'Brien, Kelli [email protected]
Ransom, Grant [email protected]
Rowe, Theresa
Steepleton, Meredith
Vezina, Zeke [email protected]
   
Griffith, Teresa Clerical - SPED Secretary [email protected]
Browley, Brian SI/AAD ESE Teacher [email protected]
Coltharp, Ginny ESE Co-Teacher [email protected]
Gast, Victoria ESE Co-Teacher
Gladney, Meredith ESE Co-Teacher
Little, Hillary SI/AAD ESE Teacher [email protected]
Nannie, David ESE Co-Teacher [email protected]
Nobert, O'Malley SI/AAD ESE Teacher
Sadler, Caroline SI/AAD ESE Teacher [email protected]
Stephenson, Nancy ESE Co-ESE Teacher [email protected]
Thomas, Haley SI/AAD ESE Teacher [email protected]
Wiley, Katrina ESE Co-Teacher [email protected]
Anderson, Elizabeth SPED Educational Assistant  
Cole, Andrea SPED Educational Assistant  
Esaw, MiKeisha SPED Educational Assistant  
Houck, Kim SPED Educational Assistant  
Houston, Kisha SPED Educational Assistant  
Luckett, Becky SPED Educational Assistant  
McElhenny, Tiffany SPED Educational Assistant  
McKessey, Melissa SPED Educational Assistant  
Morman, Valerie SPED Educational Assistant  
Nichols, Sierra SPED Educational Assistant  
Pounders, Robert SPED Educational Assistant  
Saylor, Cody SPED Educational Assistant  
Thompson, Shea SPED Educational Assistant  
Williams, Treville SPED Educational Assistant  
     
     
Watkins, Courtney Transitional Case Manager [email protected]
     
Smith, Shelby Workplace Readiness Job Coach [email protected]
Jessop, Kimberly Part-time Physical Therapist [email protected]
Christie, Kell [email protected]
Carpenter, Kevin [email protected]
Hamilton, Drew [email protected]
Healy, Kinsey [email protected]
Kang, Long Long [email protected]
Schulter, Amanda [email protected]
Spillman, Bobby [email protected]
Taylor, Matt [email protected]
Almonte, Alexis Spanish
Ferryman, Kristin Spanish [email protected]
Johnson, Marilyn French [email protected]
Latvatalo, Piia German/French [email protected]
Penrod, Doreen German [email protected]
Purcell, Erin Spanish [email protected]
Riley, Katie Spanish [email protected]
Simone, Abigail Latin [email protected]
Stewardson, Betsy Spanish [email protected]
     
ESL    
Puri, Sunita  ESL [email protected]
 
Abel, Shawn [email protected]
Bansal, Sarita [email protected]
Collins, Ashton [email protected]
Field, Brian [email protected]
Flexsenhar, Betsy [email protected]
Gaylord, Kevin [email protected]
Harvey, Wayne [email protected]
Ku (Lee), Seulah [email protected]
Lewis, Martin
Ross, Jerica [email protected]
Shirley, Nelson
Smith, Jackie [email protected]
Stevens, Chris    [email protected]
Williamson, Bradley [email protected]
Ziai, Marjan
   
Freeman, Amanda RTI Coach [email protected]
Gilbert, Kelsey RTI Interventionist- Math [email protected]
Chandler, NaToya RTI Interventionist- English
Domek, Susan [email protected]
Ducey, Melissa [email protected]
Horan, Shawn
Kennon, John [email protected]
Marcone, Stacy [email protected]
Minton, Jessica [email protected]
Perry, Bill [email protected]
Perry, Tim
Poole, Martha [email protected]
Smith, Miriah [email protected]
Wakefield, Josh [email protected]
Whaley, Angela [email protected]
Yale, Tori [email protected]
Benzing, Tony [email protected]
Brock, Nathan [email protected]
Chrestman, Nicole [email protected]
Hamlett, Scott [email protected]
Lubin, Brooke [email protected]
Morris, Tim [email protected]
Plaisance, Candace [email protected]
Quinn, Ryan [email protected]
Robinson, Michael [email protected]
Sabau, Robert
Seboldt, Erin [email protected]
Wolff, David [email protected]
Martin, Kim [email protected]
McCarter, Lane [email protected]
Thomas, James [email protected]
Pendleton, Becky [email protected]