Administration

Shara Bumgarner serves as our Head of School and has been with the School since its inception in 1997.  After four years of teaching in public schools, Shara helped start The Joy School after seeing bright students with learning differences fall through the cracks because of a lack of services and understanding of such students.  Shara is committed to providing the most ideal educational program for students with learning differences, with an emphasis on each child’s individual social and academic needs.  For her, starting The Joy School has changed her life as an educator, and she hopes to have the same level of impact on each student and parent the school serves.  Outside of school, Shara’s hobbies include running, scrapbooking, reading, watching movies, and spending time with her husband and three girls.

Lara Leigh Bergoon joined the staff of The Joy School in 2003 and is beginning her third year as Middle School Principal.  She is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Curriculum and Instruction.  She began her career in teaching in the public schools. She discovered The Joy School while completing course work at the Neuhaus Education Center in an effort to help her son, who is dyslexic.  Lara Leigh hopes her experiences, both as an educator and as a parent of a child with learning differences, will help her to be a knowledgeable and compassionate guide for students and parents in their educational decision making.  In her free time, Lara Leigh enjoys attending her children’s activities, entertaining at home with her husband, reading, movie trivia and grooving to classic rock.

Laura (Connor) Rodriguez serves as Lower School Principal and has been with the school since 2000.  She moved to Houston in 1998 from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  She graduated from The University of Iowa in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and the University of St. Thomas in 2005 with a Master’s degree in Education.  She also received a certification as an Educational Diagnostician.  Laura began her teaching career as a second grade self-contained ESL teacher in Alief. From there, she made the positive leap over to The Joy School where she feels very blessed.  Laura and her husband, Mauricio, are expecting their first child on September 2, 2008.  In her free time (or what’s left of it), Laura loves to read, kayak and travel - especially home to visit her family in Iowa.

Deborah Kirkland joined The Joy School in March 2005 and serves as Director of Development.  She graduated from the University of Houston specializing in business and finance in 1987.  Entering her eleventh year in development and fundraising, she has worked exclusively in education.  As a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals since 1998, Deborah has attended various AFP educational seminars.  Also, she has taken courses at Rice University designed specifically for fundraising professionals.  Her son spent three years in math tutoring at The Joy School.  The School has a special place in their family’s heart for the wonderful work they did with their son.  When the opportunity came to join The Joy School family, she felt honored to be part of such a special school.  Deborah enjoys cycling, hiking, reading, cooking and being with her family – husband, Kelly, and their two children.

Stacie McComb serves as Business Manager and started with The Joy School in May 2002.  Her background is in accounting and sales.  She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in General Business Administration from Sam Houston State University in August 1993.   Stacie spends her free time visiting family, going to dinner with friends, watching movies and traveling whenever possible.

Dee Anne Simonton is a native Houstonian.  She attended the University of Houston, completing her degree in Interior Design and Architecture in 2005.  To indulge her passion for design, she currently freelances as a graphics artist.  Dee Anne has enjoyed working at The Joy School since 1998 and now serves as the secretary to Shara Bumgarner.  Dee Anne lives with her husband, Doug, and their son, Trevor, and enjoys cooking, reading, ceramics, traveling and photography.

Laura Spaulding grew up in Houston where she graduated from Robert E. Lee High School and then the University of Houston.  She received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with specializations in English and Reading.  She spent two years teaching in the Alief Independent School District before joining The Joy School team in 2002.  Her favorite part of working at The Joy School has been the challenge of “figuring kids out,” and the satisfaction of watching them learn, grow and succeed.   Laura currently serves as our Director of Admissions and Student Placement where she has the unique privilege of working with families in transition, and helping them to find the right school and classroom placement for their children.  Laura and her husband, Benny, attend Parkway Fellowship Church. They have three young children.  Laura enjoys reading, playing board games, shopping and being with her friends and family.

Mark Stites serves as Director of Technology and started with The Joy School in the summer of 2005.  He is a graduate of the University of Houston with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.   He has eight and one-half years of corporate work experience including four years as a technical trainer for the top five banks in the country and four and one-half years as a systems engineer managing his company’s computer network.  Mark spends his free time with his wife, Devon, their two children and mentoring college students at his church.