Principals & Directors
The Principals and administrative staff at Ball High School are committed to developing and nurturing a learning environment for which the parents and community members of Galveston can be proud. Through the Magnet Communities, our administrators hope that students gain a better appreciation for the knowledge and resources that have been made available to them at Ball High School. Our principals have a history with both Galveston Island and Ball High School and they are committed to making sure that the students succeed, both in school and in their lives after they graduate.
- Joseph Pillar, Principal
- Dr. Julia Ramirez, Director of the BioMed/STEM Communities
- Stephanie Wilcox, Director of Media and I&E Communities
- Sarah Mills, Assistant Principal
- Maggie Queen, Assistant Principal
- Jerald Temple, Assistant Principal
- Melvin Bouldin, Assistant Principal
- Keelan Muse, Campus Behavior Coordinator
- Emily Shotwell, Testing Coordinator
- Heather Chide, Collaborative Learning Leader
Joseph Pillar, Principal
Phone: (409) 766-5715
Email: josephpillar@gisd.org
Joseph Pillar is a proud alumnus of Penn State (Bachelor degree) and University of Houston-Victoria (Master degree). Originally from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, he has lived in Texas since 1999. He is married to Angela and has two daughters. The elder has graduated from Ball High. Mr. Pillar has been the Principal here at Ball High since August of 2011. His career in education began in 1997 as a high school mathematics teacher. After ten years of teaching, Mr. Pillar traded in his teaching hat to enter the realm of administration. Here in GISD, Mr. Pillar has served as the Dean of Instruction at Ball High, the Director of Instruction and Staff Development K-12, and is currently the Principal of Ball High School. Mr. Pillar’s favorite quote is from Horace Mann, “Education then, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men, the balance-wheel of the social machinery.”
Degrees and Certifications:
The Pennsylvania State University - Bachelor degree in Secondary Education Mathematics
University of Houston Victoria - Masters of Education in Administration and Supervision
Dr. Julia Ramirez, Director of the BioMed/STEM Communities
Phone: (409) 766-5821
Email: JuliaRamirez@gisd.org
Hello, my name is Dr. Julia Ramirez and I am the Director of BioMed & STEM at Ball High School. I have been in education since 2002, working as an English teacher, Special Education teacher, Reading Specialist and Administrator. I completed my Bachelors’ programs at the University of Houston, completing degrees in English and Corporate Communications. I then attended Stephen F. Austin State University for my Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, and then continued on to complete the Superintendent program. I recently completed my Doctoral Degree from Lamar University in Educational Leadership. I hold teaching certificates for a PK-4th Generalist, Special Education Pk-12th, English as a Second Language PK-12th, Principal PK-12th and Superintendent PK-12th. My husband also works for the district, and we have two beautiful daughters who attend school in GISD.
Degrees and Certifications:
Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership
Masters in Educational Leadership
Bachelors in English
Bachelors in Communications
Certifications:
SPED PK-12
Generalist PK-4
ESL PK-12
Principal PK-12
Superintendent PK-12
Stephanie Wilcox, Director of Media and I&E Communities
Phone: (409) 766-5801
Email: stephaniewilcox@gisd.org
Hello, my name is Stephanie Wilcox. I began my career as a high school teacher in Galena Park at North Shore High School. After a couple of years, I joined Galveston ISD as a middle school teacher at Central Middle School. I worked in the district is some different roles including magnet coordinator, GCC career advising specialist and collaborative learning leader before I left to go to Texas City High School as an assistant principal. I’m enthused to be back at Ball High School as the director of media and I&E.
I have one son and a beautiful niece. I enjoy spending time with my family, going to festivals and traveling.
Degrees and Certifications:
Bachelor’s at UHCL in communication
Master’s at Lamar in educational leadership
Certifications:
Technology Applications EC-12
Social Studies 4-8
Journalism 8-12
English as a Second Language Supplemental EC-12
Principal EC-12
Sarah Mills, Assistant Principal
Phone: 409-766-5749
Email: sarahmills@gisd.org
I am Sarah Mills. This is my sixth year in GISD. It took me a while to get here but I finally made it! My husband and I are happy to call Galveston home. I am a proud graduate of Port Neches-Groves High School and Lamar University! have experience as a teacher for eleven years, a counselor for nine years and an administrator for six years. My experience comes from Aldine ISD, Conroe ISD and Willis ISD.
I am very excited to be a member of the Ball High administration team. I look forward to getting to know the student body more and more each day. It is such an honor to be a part of the lives of these incredible young people as they make their way into adulthood!
Degrees and Certifications:
Degrees:
BS Interdisciplinary Studies
M ed Counseling
M ed Educational Leadership
Certifications:
ESL K-12
PK-6 teacher
GT
School Counseling
LPC-S, RPT
Maggie Queen, Assistant Principal
Phone: 409-766-5749
Email: maggiequeen@gisd.org
Hi! My name is Maggie Queen and I am one of the assistant principals at Ball High School. I began my educational career in 2010 and have since served in many roles including K-8th Spanish teacher, high school math teacher, campus grant coordinator, and now as assistant principal. I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Spanish Language & Linguistics at The Ohio State University followed by a teacher certification program in Secondary Mathematics and Biology at Baker College- Flint. I completed my Master’s in 2018 in Educational Management through University of Houston- Clear Lake. I hold certification in Mathematics 7th-12th, English as a Second Language 7th-12th, and Principal PK-12th. My husband and I live on the island with our two pups, Harley and Peppie.
Degrees and Certifications:
Masters in Educational Management
Bachelors in Spanish Language and Linguistics
Certifications:
Mathematics 7-12
ESL 7-12
Principal PK-12
Jerald Temple, Assistant Principal
Jerald Temple is a BOI and proud graduate of Ball High School (‘86). Along with his assistant principal responsibilities, Coach Temple is the head coach of the boys' basketball team. Coach Temple has been an AP for 4 years and the leader of the Tors for the past 18 seasons. His career in education began in 1997 at Texas City High School. After years of teaching, Coach Temple served as the assistant athletic director for 8 years here in GISD, before becoming an AP.
Degrees and Certifications:
University of Houston-Clear Lake: Bachelor's degree in behavioral sciences
Lamar University: Master of Education in Administration
Melvin Bouldin, Assistant Principal
Phone: 409-766-5787
Email: melvinbouldin@gisd.org
I am Melvin Bouldin Jr. and I am a BOI and a 1982 graduate of Ball High School. I attended Prairie View A&M, Galveston College, Texas Southern University, University of Houston Central Campus, and UHCL. I received my Bachelor’s Degree from Texas Southern and my Master’s Degree from UHCL. I am the second of three generations of educators in GISD. My mother taught 1st grade for about 20 years, my father taught PE for over 40 years, and my daughter was the RTI Coordinator here at Ball High School for a number of years. I’ve been married to my wife Fannie for 39 years and we have 3 children and 13 grandchildren. I began working in GISD in 1989 as a PE teacher at DAEP, later moving to Oppe Elementary as a PE teacher. I then moved to Weis becoming Dean of Students and then Assistant Principal. I later became the Principal at Parker Elementary from 2006 through 2012. Finally, I became the Principal at Central Middle School from 2012 through 2014. I retired in 2014 and began working at Gulf Coast Centers as an IDD Service Coordinator before returning to GISD in 2016 as a PE Teacher/Athletic Coordinator at Austin Middle School. I am also an Ordained Minister and Pastor of a church in LaMarque. I am truly excited to work with everyone at Ball High School.
Keelan Muse, Campus Behavior Coordinator
Phone: (409) 766-5850
Email: KeelanMuse@gisd.org
Hi, my name is Keelan Muse and I have one goal as an educator; to help your child to maximize his or her potential, believe and succeed. I have been working with students for 20 years and I have seen my fair share of both success and failure. I believe that success is going from failure to failure with the same amount of enthusiasm.
I am a Ball High graduate of the greatest class ever, the class of 1991. I believe in keeping my God first and my family close there behind. I have only one goal in life and that is to improve each day in all aspects of my life. I am a lover of all and I require all those who encounter to me to hopefully be as genuine and compassionate as possible.
Emily Shotwell, Testing Coordinator
Phone: 409-766-5777
Email: emilyshotwell@gisd.org
Hello everyone! My name is Emily Shotwell and I am the Testing Administrator at Ball High. I am a proud graduate from The University of Texas at Tyler where I received my Bachelors in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting. After a few years in the business world, I decided to go back to school and dive into Education. I have nine years of experience in Education, this being my fifth year in GISD, all served in the middle school setting, but I am beyond thrilled to make the move to high school. I have experience teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Science, Science department lead, Collaborative Learning Leader, and Assistant Principal. Always wanting to learn and grow, I continued my path and earned my Masters of Education in Administration degree from Lamar University with plans to begin my doctoral program soon. I am excited to see new and former students in a new setting and to be a positive impact on their lives. It is best to reach me by email, but you can also find me cheering on the Tors at most events. Go Tors!
Degrees and Certifications:
Masters of Education in Administration - Lamar University
Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting - The University of Texas at Tyler
Principal as Instructional Leader- EC-12
Science 4-8
Generalist 4-8
ESL 4-8
Heather Chide, Collaborative Learning Leader
Phone: 409-766-5792
Email: heatherchide@gisd.org
Heather Chide is a proud 4th generation BOI and Ball High School graduate. She is in her 13th year as an educator. She graduated from BHS in 2003 with 30 college credits by enrolling in Ball High’s Universal Access Program partnered with Galveston College. She then finished her Associate’s Degree with Galveston College and received her Associates in General Studies in 2004. Ms. Chide went on to Texas State University, San Marcos, to complete her undergraduate degree with a Bachelor’s of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2008. She returned home to Galveston after graduation and began her teaching career in GISD in 2008 in the mix of Hurricane IKE. Ms. Chide has taught all elementary grade levels as a classroom teacher for 9 years before she decided to grow in her career as an administrator.
In 2011, Ms. Chide graduated with her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington- Online Program. In 2018, Ms. Chide decided to venture into her next educational chapter and become an administrator as the Collaborative Learning Leader at GISD’s AIM Middle and High School. In 2019, Ms. Chide transferred to Ball High School to continue the same Collaborative Learning Leader role and build her administrative leadership by now enrolling in Lamar University's Principalship Program. Ms. Chide became interim Assistant Principal during the 2020-2021 pandemic year. Upon completing the Principal Program in December of 2020, Ms. Chide received her Principal Certification. She is in her 4th year as a Collaborative Learning Leader Administrator.
Ms. Chide is engaged to BOI and Ball High graduate, Thomas Canak. They are getting married this November in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. She has a 19 year old step-son who attends Texas A&M University, College Station. Ms. Chide has no children of her own, but adores her three pups and enjoys her hobbies of gardening, going to the beach, and relaxing with family.
Degrees:
Associate’s of General Studies Degree- Galveston College: Galveston, Texas
Bachelor's of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies- Texas State University: San Marcos, Texas
Master’s of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies- University of Texas at Arlington: Arlington, Texas
Certifications:
Principal Certification Program- Lamar University: Beaumont, Texas (Principal as Instructional Leader Certification)
Early Childhood through 4th Grade Teaching Certification
English as a Second Language Certification
Gifted and Talented Certification
Texas Teacher Evaluation & Support System Certification