Welcome Harbor Light Academy HEAD OF SCHOOL

 We are thrilled to announce our Head of School, Mr. Kevin Goetz. Kevin believes every school begins with a great faculty and staff who recognize the importance of students and their families.  It's a symbiotic relationship in which both parties can help each other grow their shared students into leaders.  His vision of school leadership blends his own upbringing in a small town in central New Jersey in which it seemed like the mantra "it takes a village" was followed on a daily basis with a focus on strong academics and developing a student's moral compass.

Kevin earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Richmond majoring in History and Sociology.  He began graduate classes immediately after his graduation from Richmond at the College of William & Mary, ultimately earning his Masters and Educational Specialist certificates in School Psychology.  After interning in a school psychology role in Prince Edward County schools for the 2000-01 school year, he took a full-time position with the York County School Division as a school psychologist in 2001.  Blessed by supportive supervisors, he earned multiple promotions to Lead School Psychologist and Instructional Specialist, before transitioning into building administration as an assistant principal at Yorktown Elementary.  He also served as a middle school assistant principal at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Suffolk before earning his own school as principal at Carrollton Elementary School in Isle of Wight County.  Over his three-year tenure at Carrollton, the school was noted for its loving and supportive family friendly atmosphere while earning a Distinguished School award from the Virginia Department of Education for the academic accomplishments of the school.

Since August 2015, Kevin has led Trinity Lutheran School in Newport News growing the school in so many facets- including enrollment, fundraising, academics, and community outreach.  Most recently Trinity had experienced five straight years of significantly growing enrollment with re-enrollment rates consistently at 95% and higher.  He served as the lead for two school accreditation visits with multiple commendations for best practices from both visiting accreditation teams.  Yet beyond all those "business" data points, Kevin would tell you he's most proud of the beautiful student-focused school community that was welcoming to all families. 

In addition, Kevin has served as an adjunct instructor in the School of Education at Old Dominion University since 2010, teaching classes in classroom management, special education law, and human growth and development.  He's earned several department awards in recognition of both his teaching, which bridges the theoretical with the practical day to day, but also his connections with his students.

Kevin lives in Smithfield with his wife, Susan, a public-school deputy superintendent and their two dogs.  He has three children, Riley graduating from the University of Virginia in May majoring in Statistics and Psychology; a son Carter who will be starting at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado this summer as a recruited student-athlete in soccer, and a daughter, Avery a sophomore in high school.

Kevin is incredibly excited and feels so blessed for this opportunity to help build a new school in a beautiful and growing community that values strong academics while developing the whole child into moral leaders within a Christian school environment full of supportive adults. Welcome, Mr. Goetz!