From youth minister and ordained pastor to classroom teacher and educator, new Assistant Principal Ryan Hart’s resumé reads itself. Joining the school’s staff in early February, Mr. Hart quickly adapted to the fast pace of the school and the strong community of Warriors.

As a child, his creativity fed his dream of becoming a famous architect, yet as he stepped into adulthood, he found that he valued creativity in different aspects of life. Deeming himself an architect of the community, Mr. Hart aims to brighten students’ days with a wide smile and a big dream of proving that everyone has a purpose, a dream, and a possibility of making anything they want to happen.

“I want to help teachers be great teachers and I especially want to help students achieve their dreams,” Mr. Hart said. “The fact that I’ve been able to do what I’ve been able to do is proof that anyone can improve. Anyone can make a difference.”

“I really barely read by fourth grade. I really kind of fell through the cracks, so it gave me a sense of watching out for people,” Mr. Hart said. “When I would get overwhelmed by school, [my mom and I] would have picnics and read books to kind of be able to separate schoolwork from learning.”

Armed with a bachelor’s degree in religion from Southern Methodist University, a master’s degree in religion and politics from Claremont Graduate University, and a Principal Certification from Lamar University, Mr. Hart’s interests vary between his two passions: ministry and education.

“I always wanted to work in education and to work in ministry, but in my mind, they’re both about helping people, supporting people, and encouraging people to do more than they realize they can do,” Mr. Hart said. “I care a lot about people and the way that they think and the way they act. I’ve always just really been interested in people and human behavior and belief systems.”

Moving past his struggles, Mr. Hart prioritizes encouraging others to engage in class and be ambitious outside of school. Showing up for his past self, Mr. Hart hopes to prove anyone can do anything, no matter what the circumstances are. To him, anyone can and should make a difference.

“As an adult, I now love leadership books — which may seem boring — but I really find supporting people, motivating people, and helping people to do better [to be] an enjoyable part of life,” Mr. Hart said. “For me, the big important thing is that people really do matter. It’s not just about getting things done — students matter, parents matter, staff matter, and their voices should be heard.”

Basking in the peace of nature, Mr. Hart and his three children trek the United States, collecting National Park stamps throughout the country. Their favorites, Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah, and Yellowstone National Park in Cody, Wyoming, give the family a chance to see the beauty of the world from a different view.

“We’ve been to more than half of the national parks,” Mr. Hart said. “They have some great hikes that have really nice views and canyons in part of the hill country.”

A lifelong dedication to learning and helping others made Mr. Hart the person he is today. Despite his challenges, Mr. Hart developed an aspiration to pass on his message: anyone can make a difference.

“As a child, I wanted to be an architect and I still love architecture, but I think for me it was about being creative and building something,” Mr. Hart said. “In my career, I feel like I’ve always built something — it’s just not buildings.”