Faculty & Staff



Gary
My name is Gary Tew. I am excited and privileged to serve the students, parents, teachers and community at Westport Elementary School. I grew up in Pittsford, Michigan, a small town in the southern part of the state close to Ohio and Indiana. After graduating from high school, I worked for 1½ years as a production machinist for an automobile manufacturer before being encouraged by a close friend to attend Evangel College in Springfield, Missouri.

Now in my twentieth year as an educator, I have spent my entire career with the Springfield Public School district. I was a paraprofessional at Fairbanks Elementary, taught at Holland Elementary, and worked as an exchange teacher with Missouri State University at Greenwood Laboratory School helping to incorporate technology into the classroom. After teaching fifth grade at Mark Twain Elementary, I was given my first principalship at Fairbanks Elementary where I served for four years. I have coordinated the district’s elementary summer school program and mentored principals new to the profession.

For the past eight years I have been the principal at Pittman Elementary School, the school my wife Lorie once attended. Together we have two wonderful children, Katie 14 and Bradley 10. I enjoy cycling, coaching my children’s sports teams and volunteering at my church.

I believe the education process is a joint effort that must be embraced and nurtured by teachers, parents, students and the community. I am looking forward to serving Westport and firmly believe in working to instill confidence and being the best we can be.

With Your Child in Mind,

Gary Tew