THE EDUCATIONAL TEAM 2006-07

In any school, success and failure are almost entirely a function of the people that are responsible for the interaction with the children.  At Paragon we embrace the philosophy that in order to have the best school, we must have the best teachers.  At Paragon that is exactly what we attempt to do. We recruit staff members from among the very best in the profession.  We are committed to rewarding them with compensation and benefits that rival the  very best public and private schools in the state.  Our teachers are not just staff members; they are team members and they take that approach towards their jobs and responsibilities at Paragon.  What results is a superior education for the students involved.  Our teachers are given the academic freedom to be creative and effective in the classroom and in the lives of the kids.  Our administrative structure is designed to enhance the teachers' effectiveness and not hinder it with endless "administrivia" and edicts aimed at fulfilling ineffective policies.  Instead, we demand a great deal from them and year after year they deliver performances that make Paragon a place where kids enjoy the challenges and rewards of an effective educational program. 

The Paragon Team Bios

David McGrath arrived in Austin nineteen years ago to begin his college education at the University of Texas. There he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Masters in Educational Psychology while competing as a member of the Longhorn football team. Following graduation from UT, Mr. McGrath served as school counselor and director of admissions for Hyde Park Junior-Senior High School for three years. He obtained both teaching and administrative experience at the middle school and high school levels. After a stint as an academic counselor in the Student Affairs Office of UT's Women's Athletic Department, Mr. McGrath became a founding member of the Paragon Team and currently serves as the school's headmaster.

Mr. McGrath is a member of several state and national associations and honor societies including: the Texas Counseling Association, the Association of College Admissions Counselors, the Mensa Society, Phi Kappa Phi, and Psi Chi. He is currently a member of the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the National Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development.

"What if middle school was a positive and grounding experience that prepared students for the responsibilities and challenges of adulthood? What if middle school was a time when students received extra attention and guidance from caring teachers? What if the entire campus, curriculum and faculty were built around the needs and strengths of middle school students only? 'What if' has become 'What is' - Paragon Prep."

Marilyn Dougherty McArthur has had a varied teaching profession.  After graduating from Louisiana State University she spent several years teaching elementary school.  She is the mother of 4 children, and spent 16 years as a stay-at-home mother before re-entering the teaching profession.  Upon returning to teaching she pursued a masters degree in education from Louisiana State University at Shreveport, with an emphasis on teaching of gifted and mathematics.  She has continued her graduate education, in mathematics and school administration.  Mrs. McArthur has taught seven years in Shreveport, LA, five years in Page, AZ, and has completed four years at Paragon Prep.  These venues have given her varied experiences from gifted classes to multi-cultures. 

Mrs. McArthur is a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.  She has been a speaker at state, regional and national mathematics meetings.  In 1997, Mrs. McArthur was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching of Mathematics, representing the state of Arizona.

“In today’s society, everyone, not just those who are good at mathematics must understand algebraic concepts and be able to work with technology.  Changes in society and changing expectations of employers have required changes in the mathematic curriculum.  It is imperative that our students become logical thinkers as they master a wide range of mathematical and technological skills.  I strongly believe that the middle school years must give our students the foundation in skills and organization that will enable them to be successful in high school and their advanced education.  I continually learn from my students.  To see them make and apply connections inspires me to return to the classroom each year.”

Hilary Long came to Paragon from the University of Texas where she was working on her PhD in Ancient Art History. Before her illustrious UT career, she was a native of Brighton, England and received her teaching degree, Masters and Bachelor of Arts from Cambridge University. Mrs. Long spent six glorious seasons working for both the British and American schools of Archaeology in Athens and Rome before deciding upon a career in teaching and made the big move across the pond after her marriage to a Texan in 1999. Mrs. Long has a two year old daughter called Molly and a five-year-old daughter, Olivia, whom she named after the fearless but ruthless wife of the Emperor Augustus and who can already say “I am Olivia” in Latin as her mother believes in practicing what she preaches - namely that Latin is not a dead language, rather one that has been alive for a very long time and that it is never too young to start!

“doce ut discas” (teach that you may learn”) may seem like a rather selfish teaching philosophy to have but it is certainly true for me, particularly at a middle school with intelligent, motivated students. I learn daily from my students. I learn or rather am inspired by their determination and incredible work ethic and their fresh perspective on an old topic. Students enrich me and in turn that makes me a better person and, I hope, a better teacher.