North Tampa Christian Academy is pleased to introduce next year’s Kindergarten through 8th grade Principal, Damon Gilliam! Hailing from Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, Mr. G has always been a leader. From student government to captain of various sports teams to church elder, Mr. G has always been extremely active in his community. At a young age, he wanted to be a pediatrician with the dream of making children healthier. In high school, however, he enjoyed working with children so much that he decided he wanted to be a youth pastor or a teacher. Calling the Bible his favorite book, Mr. G says, “I knew God specifically wanted me to do something in the realm of working with young people … I hope that each student chooses Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and with that choice, they understand that He wants each one to become a difference maker in this world.”
Mr. G has 16 years of experience in education. He comes from a family full of educators, including his father who has more than 40 years of experience as a teacher, principal, college professor, and VP of Education as well as his mother-in-law who is a highly successful principal with 20 plus years of experience. Mr. G has been blessed by having several incredible leaders throughout his professional career that have mentored him.
He has taught 1st grade through 12th grade and has been on multiple educational committees. Eventually, he worked his way up to being a principal for PreK–8th grade in Texas. In addition to his work in the States, Mr. G served as the principal of an international academy in Cairo, Egypt. The 2020-2021 school year at NTCA will mark his 7th year as a principal.
Students say Mr. G enjoys making class lessons fun, interesting, and applicable! What a teacher teaches is valuable and important for the students today so they can be better tomorrow. “Education is a multi-faceted, all-inclusive journey in helping young people grow and develop mentally, academically, spiritually, physically, emotionally, and socially,” Mr. G says. “Now, more than ever, we need capable leaders with high morals and character.” Seeing students reach that “break-through moment” and achieve far more than they thought possible is what he cherishes.
“Principals can have a positive impact on young people,” Mr. G says. As a teacher at NTCA during the 2019-2020 school year, he has already connected with the wonderful students, parents, and staff. Looking ahead, he’s excited to serve and meet the needs of NTCA students and their families. Mr. G says, “I am really excited about implementing a bullying prevention program that focuses on acceptance, inclusion, and understanding of one another. It involves opportunities for students to understand one another’s point of view or feelings in order to empathize and relate to one another.”
Mr. G holds a Bachelor’s in Science for Elementary Education and a Master’s of Education in Administration. In 2007, he was awarded Teacher of the Year for Grand Prairie Independent School District and became a finalist for the State of Texas. And in 2014, he was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award for the Southwestern Union Conference. When he isn’t at school, he loves spending time with his family, playing and watching sports, and traveling internationally.
Get to know Damon Gilliam
Mr. G in Athens, Greece.
Do you have a favorite movie or TV show? Movie: The Princess Bride. TV Show: The Office.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? To be able to fly!
Favorite place that you’ve traveled, or a place you hope to visit? I thoroughly enjoy traveling internationally and have been blessed to see a lot of the world and experience new cultures. That’s a tough question, but I’d have to say my favorite place I’ve visited is Athens, Greece. I’ve been there twice! I love the history and all the different historical sites to see. I especially enjoyed hiking up Mars Hill, which is where the apostle Paul preached during biblical times.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Cheese pizza! What’s there not to love?
Do you have any hidden talents? If I told you, they wouldn’t be hidden.
At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, the faculty, staff, and families work as a team. Our service-oriented approach builds Christian leaders who think deeply, choose wisely, create beauty, and use their dreams to solve problems. Want to learn more about what makes us different? Contact us today.