The Boerne Independent School District proudly announces that Michael Joannou, Assistant Principal at Van Raub Elementary School, has been selected as the Region 20 Assistant Principal of the Year by the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA). This prestigious award is given annually to 20 educators across the state for their outstanding service to TEPSA.
Mr. Joannou, currently in his third year as the Assistant Principal at Van Raub, embarked on his career in education in 2008 as a learning mentor and attendance officer at Lordship Lane Primary School in North London. His initial role involved working with children facing behavioral, social, and emotional difficulties to facilitate a conducive learning environment. This experience solidified his commitment to teaching, and he completed his degree while working at LLPS, later beginning his teaching career in 2014 as a kindergarten teacher.
In his role as Van Raub's MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) facilitator, Mr. Joannou implemented a refined referral and tracking process tailored to the evolving needs of the campus and students. Van Raub attributes its "A" rating and the achievement of its first two distinctions in academic growth and mathematics to Mr. Joannou's contributions to the MTSS processes.
To enhance Van Raub's connection with the community, Mr. Joannou introduced the All Pro Dad program on campus. Over the past two years, he, along with a parent volunteer, has successfully run the All Pro Dad chapter at Van Raub, providing fathers and male relatives an opportunity to connect with their children on campus and engage in meaningful discussions about various character traits. The program has seen substantial success, with approximately 100 participants at each meeting.
Mr. Joannou initially joined Boerne ISD at Cibolo Creek Elementary, and in 2019, he commenced his master's degree and administration internship during his final year at CCES. In the summer of 2020, he joined the team at Herff Elementary as an Instructional Coach, earning his principal certification during this time.
Mr. Joannou will be honored at the annual TEPSA awards conference later this year and is also a finalist for the National Assistant Principal of the Year award.
