2007-08 ParaTeam
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.
2007-08 Parateam
Rachel Ash
Kristin Burke
Bob Cash
Joseph Colletti
Mark Hathaway
Marilyn McArthur
David McGrath
Ziem Nguyen
Will Reynolds
Coach Bobby Schwartz
Deepak Swami
David
McGrath, M.Ed.
Founder/Headmaster
David McGrath arrived in Austin twenty-one 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."
Mark Hathaway
Founder/Business Manager
Mr. Hathaway holds a Bachelor's of Business Administration in finance from The University of Texas at Arlington. Mr. H started his profession career as an investment specialist in Shreveport, Louisiana. During this time, he sought refuge from the boiler room by volunteering with kids in different school and sports settings. The time he spent working with kids was much more rewarding than his job. In the spring of 1997, Mr. H quit his "day job" to come help start Paragon. It was a very scary but easy decision.
Over the years, he has worn many hats at Paragon: teacher, athletic director, coach, bus driver, janitor, physical plant, birthday singer, Slurpee provider, trip leader, and many more. Mr. Hathaway is currently teaching 6th grade pre-algebra, coaching football and basketball, and is Paragon's business manager. Mr. Hathaway is also currently serving his sixth straight term as Austin Inter-Parochial League President, the league of 20 schools in which Paragon competes athletically.
"Paragon is such a unique environment,
and the students are a great reflection of this environment. The students
have the balance of a great work ethic, great attitude, know how to have fun,
and have a great sense of humor. I wish I had a "Paragon" when I
was navigating the awkward waters of middle school!"
Bob Cash
5th Grade Teacher
Basketball Coach
Bob Cash earned a
degree in Accounting from the University of Texas, at Austin in 1980 and spent
the next seven years employed in the public accounting, and real estate
appraisal fields. However, a
yearning to teach young people resurfaced and he returned to school, Southwest
Texas State University, to earn a teaching certificate and a Masters of
Education.
Before
coming to Paragon in August 2000, Bob spent the previous ten years working with
some wonderful fifth graders and teachers at Oak Hill Elementary School in
Austin. At Oak Hill, Bob was
selected Teacher of the Year in 1994, and nominated by a former student then
recognized in Who’s Who Among American Teachers for 2000.
He has a love of math, American history and sports.
Marilyn McArthur
Math Teacher
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 – now grown, and a proud grandmother of five. Mrs. McArthur spent 16 years as a stay-at-home mother before re-entering the teaching profession. Upon returning to teaching she earned 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 eight 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, the
Association of Supervision and Development, and the Council of Presidential
Awardees. 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.
We live in a mathematical world. Mathematical competence opens doors to productive futures. Due to the advancement of technology the level of mathematical and critical thinking had dramatically increased. Mathematical students of today are entitled to a set of mathematical basics that will enable them to compute fluently and to solve problems creatively and resourcefully.
Deepak Swami
Science Teacher
After
completing his Masters in medical biology at the Long Island University, he
spent the next year working at the Public Health Research Institute researching
drug resistant tuberculosis. During
this time he was asked to substitute for two weeks for a science teacher who was
called for jury duty. What he
experienced during the two weeks dramatically changed his life.
His life long desire to do biological research came to end and thus began
his foray into teaching middle school science.
Mr. Swami has also completed a three-year certificate program in film and video editing and motion graphics at New School University. Some of the documentaries he has worked are New Generation, Point of Attack and Who's afraid of Lynn Stewart? Mr. Swami has found a way to combine his love for teaching science with his new-found joy in technology by incorporating it in his teaching.
"As
we meet the generation of channel-surfers and mouse-clickers attending Middle
School Science, we are faced with the challenge of adapting our teaching methods
to the unique strengths and needs of these students. Using
technology via web and motion graphics has been a truly rewarding experience for
my students and me. I find it
a privilege and blessing to experience the energy and curiosity of young minds
on a daily basis."
Will Reynolds
Social Studies Teacher
Will
Reynolds graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Wake Forest
University in 1983. After graduation he worked in banking and commercial
real estate in Washington D.C.
In
1992, seeking challenge and reward, Will decided to change careers and entered a
Masters program in Education at George Washington University during the evenings
while substitute teaching during the day. He has taught Middle School
Social Studies in Washington and Austin for fifteen years.
He and his wife Heather have a twelve year old son, Henry
"While
I certainly want my students to leave my class with a wealth of knowledge, I
realize that I need to do more than fill their heads with a bunch of facts.
To be successful, I must teach them how to be a student and make them want
to be a student. The great part about Paragon is that the line between
work and play is blurred: We work hard, but we know how to have fun doing
it."
Bobby
SchwartzAthletic Director
Head Football Coach, Head Basketball Coach
Coach Bobby Schwartz is a graduate of the Master's program at the University of Texas. He is a Texas State certified teacher and has completed 30 hours of work towards his PHD. Coach Schwartz comes to Paragon from the college ranks after serving as an Assistant Coach to the Men’s Basketball team at St. Edwards University where in his first year they won the first Heartland conference championship in school history, first Heartland conference tournament title and earned a bid to the NCAA tournament. Before ST. Edward's he was the assistant men's Basketball Coach at Concordia University and served as Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach at St. Mary’s where his varsity team went 65-0 over three seasons. Coach Schwartz is currently a member of the (NABC) National Association of Basketball Coaches and a former member of the American Coaches Federation. In 2007 Coach Schwartz was named the National Director of the American Jewish Coaches Association of College Basketball Coaches.
The demand for Coach Schwartz's basketball fundamentals teaching techniques has earned him a position as camp league commissioner for the University of Louisville and Coach Rick Pitino for five years and Coaching positions at Billy Donovan’s fundamentals camps at the University of Florida, Tubby Smith’s University of Kentucky camps, Rick Barnes Texas camps, and the University of Virginia. During the summers Coach Schwartz coaches Team Austin, a 16-under high school team, and led them to 2006 Gold medal and the 2005 Silver Medal wins at the Maccabi games.
As a strong believer of continuing education in the field of coaching, Coach Schwartz has completed the NABC Coaches Professional Development series training for the last four years in St. Louis, San Antonio, INDY and Atlanta.
Coach Schwartz is an ordained Rabbi and serves as Chaplain to the Critical Incident Response team of the Texas State Troopers under the Department of Public Safety for the past five years. Prior to that Coach Schwartz served as chaplain to the Austin Police Department.
"When people ask me what is it like to work as a Coach and a Rabbi I tell them its the same job. Both professions are about helping motivate and inspire young people to be their very best."
RACHEL ASH
7th & 8th Grade Latin Teacher
Rachel Ash began her Latin career as a “Sooner” at the University of Oklahoma, and has moved to Austin to pursue her graduate degree at the University of Texas. She has led a very active career in her four years of experience, heading several Oklahoma language organizations, training other teachers, and presenting statewide. Rachel has even presented teaching methodology at the national level, at the American Foreign Language Teachers’ Association annual conference last year. Self-improvement and professional development is her strongest objective; to that end Rachel constantly researches teaching methods and techniques, and only employs the latest research in her own classroom.
Rachel Ash currently resides in Round Rock with her husband and 4-year-old son, Phoenix.
“I believe in the ancient expression, ‘ad astra per aspera,’ or ‘to the stars through difficulties.’ The effort my students and I myself put into their education will directly affect their chances to experience Latin as a living, breathing language.”
JOSEPH COLLETTI
6th Grade World Cultures & English
Joseph Colletti received a Bachelors of Arts of Philosophy
from The University of Texas and Fine Arts at Northern Arizona University.
After seven years, he returned to Flagstaff, Arizona and graduated with a
Master of Arts in English.
During the seven years between University work, Joseph
attended the school of life, traveling extensively through the U.S., Europe, The
West Indies, and Central America. Joseph
finally settled in Roatan, Honduras teaching Immersion English to adults and
children and instructing scuba diving. Mr.
Colletti returned to the States and worked as commissioned artist and musician
before embarking on his teaching career.
KRISTIN BURKE
7th & 8th Grade English Teacher
Kristin Burke, a native Austinite, earned a degree in English from Southwest Texas State University in 1994 before beginning a teaching career as an Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate English teacher at Anderson High School. While at Anderson she was nominated by her principal for the Texas Excellence Award for Outstanding High School Teachers. In 2001, Kristin joined the Paragon faculty for two wonderful years before leaving to take care of her family, who includes husband Joe, and daughters Collyn, Caroline, and Campbell.
Kristin is proud to once again join her Paragon family as the 7th and 8th grade English teacher. With experience in teaching at both the high school and middle school levels, she is able to challenge and motivate students to succeed as readers, writers, and critical thinkers.
Kristin is a certified New Jersey Writing Project teacher who enjoys writing both creatively and professionally.
ZIEM NGUYEN
Assistant
MONICA LOPEZ
Receptionist
PENNI WALTERS
Receptionist