22 Independent School Leaders Across Texas to Know
- Jonno White
- Jul 29
- 3 min read
Last updated: July 2026
Independent school leaders in Texas guide learning communities statewide. This alphabetical directory introduces twenty-two current, interim and officially appointed senior leaders.
Inclusion is not a ranking. It is a practical cross-section of responsibility across faith-based, Montessori, boarding, international, metropolitan and regional schools.
Why Independent School Leadership in Texas Matters
Independent school leaders must connect educational purpose, student wellbeing, staff development, governance, financial sustainability and family trust. No single playbook fits every Texas school.
1. Julie Ambler
Her long tenure and earlier investment-banking career bring educational, financial and governance perspectives together.
2. Gregory Anderson
His background spans ministry, nonprofit work, distance learning and communications.
3. David Baad
His role connects educational leadership, board partnership, faculty support and institutional stewardship.
4. Matt Burgy
He helped guide a renewed mission and a strategic plan involving students, families, staff and the board.
5. Stephen Cox
He connects Christian discipleship with curriculum, culture and community expectations.
6. Shannon Elders
She holds a doctorate in leadership and serves in sector roles with independent school associations.
7. Jay Ferguson
He practised law for ten years before writing and teaching on school law, governance and Christian education.
8. Brian N. Guenther
He became the academy’s fifteenth president in 2018 during expansion of lower grades and day enrolment.
9. Christopher Gunnin
He leads boarding and day students in Years 6 to 12 across academics, athletics, the arts and student life.
10. Shelby Hammer
Her pathway includes teaching, admissions, financial aid, middle school leadership and assistant head work.
11. Billy Handmaker
He has worked in independent schools since 1989 and previously led schools in Albuquerque and St. Louis.
12. Lee J. Hark
He brings more than twenty-five years of experience across several independent schools.
13. Brice Helton
His background includes Army airborne infantry service, graduate theological study and classical education leadership.
14. Maura Joyce
She holds primary and elementary Montessori diplomas and has served as a classroom teacher and examiner.
15. Eric Lombardi
He brought departmental curriculum audits to the school and supported a 2026 external history review.
16. Jennifer Morgan
She joined Trinity in 2000 as an early kindergarten teacher before progressing through several leadership roles.
17. Thomas Oden
His career includes leadership work across Europe, South America, Africa, the Middle East and United World College settings.
18. Darren Price
He previously led a school in California and spent a decade in Christian international schools in South Korea.
19. Matthew Rush
His school leadership experience dates to 1997, including a headship in Arkansas and senior roles at Parish since 2009.
20. Ned Smith
He studied at Princeton and completed graduate work through Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English.
21. Lisa Vardi
Her appointment followed an eight-month search with broad community participation and a trustee-led committee.
22. Amy Witten
She helped organise a 2026 external review of the history curriculum with visiting educators and department leaders.
What These Leaders Show Us
The pathways are varied, but mission clarity, board partnership, curriculum review, staff learning, sound systems and careful communication appear repeatedly.
How to Use This List
Start with the leader whose school type, role or city is closest to your context. Read the linked school page, then bring one useful question back to your own school.
Conclusion
These leaders show many routes into senior responsibility, but one core task remains: turn a school’s purpose into a coherent experience for students and adults.
Work With Jonno
I work with school leadership teams through keynotes, workshops and facilitated leadership sessions. To request a written proposal, email jonno@consultclarity.org.
About the Author
Jonno White is a Brisbane-based leadership consultant, keynote speaker, Certified Working Genius Facilitator and author of Step Up or Step Out. He works with schools, corporates and nonprofits around the world.