The Woodlands Methodist School announces new principal

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The Woodlands Methodist School has named Tim Patton as its new principal.

The school — a ministry of The Woodlands United Methodist Church — currently serves kindergarten through sixth grade. It plans to expand to eighth grade by 2018, which is what prompted administrators to bring Patton on board, said The Woodlands UMC Executive Director of Child Development Linda Wilmoth.

"As we’re making plans to go through eighth grade, our number one academic goal is our students leave here ready for ninth grade at the high school of their choice,” Wilmoth said. “Tim has a wealth of private and public school experience as a teacher, principal, and administrator at the middle school and high school levels. He knows what it takes to prepare students for all of the terrific high schools in our area."

Patton said he’s excited to take on the challenge of transitioning the school into this next phase and making sure the kids have the opportunity to experience advanced coursework on a high-school level in the middle grades.

"I’m really looking forward to seeing these kids grow up and mature over the next two years and leave here as ninth graders ready to walk on to a high school campus, looking forward to the next stage of their life,” Patton said. “Most of my experience is with secondary — middle and high school — so this is a familiar adventure."

A large part of that preparation involves making sure students have access to the advanced classes their public school peers have — classes that will transfer as high school credit and get them on accelerated study paths.

"It helps us to have someone who’s got that kind of (public high school) experience so we can have attainable goals and make sure our school is as good as it can be,” Wilmoth said.

Patton taught accounting, business law, finance, economics and government for 10 years prior to receiving his Masters of Science in Education Administration. He then worked as an assistant principal at The Woodlands High School and Willis High School, where he would later be named principal. During his tenure in Willis ISD, he received his superintendent certification from Sam Houston State University.

Patton has received many honors in his career, including being named both teacher of the year and administrator of the year. He also served as an administrator at The Woodlands Preparatory School and most recently at The Andrew Rodman American School.

TWMS former Head of School Rebecca Coates will take on the new role of Dean of Admissions and Community Relations. With admissions as her primary focus, she will be devoting more time and resources to promoting the school in the community and overseeing the admissions and recruitment process.

"For our school to continue growing and finding students who will thrive in our environment, we need to make a concerted effort to be out in the community,” Wilmoth said. "We realized we didn’t have anyone on staff who could devote time to our whole admission process. Rebecca is the perfect person to do that. She loves our school, our church, and our mission, and she’s so positive, enthusiastic and hospitable that she offers that warm welcome we want families to experience when they visit here. She shines at being the face of our school."

For more information on The Woodlands Methodist School, contact Rebecca Coates at rcoates@twumc.org or 281-882-8212.

For more information about The Woodlands United Methodist Church, visit thewoodlandsumc.org.