Faculty Biographies
Mr. Stephane Ruz, Director of the High School – Most recently, Mr. Ruz has been the Chair of the Foreign Language Department of The Ensworth School (Nashville, TN). Prior to his time at Ensworth, Mr. Ruz worked for three years at The Middlesex School (Concord, MA), and for seven years at The Awty International School (Houston, TX). Mr. Ruz has built a language department, coordinated trips to Spain and France, taught AP French Literature, AP French Language, IB French at the B and A levels, Spanish, and AP Art History. He has supervised dormitories, chaired the school's discipline committee, and served as faculty sponsor for the school newspaper. He has also been a very successful coach of varsity soccer. In addition to his studies at La Nouvelle Sorbonne (Paris, France), Mr. Ruz earned a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in French Literature (University of Houston, TX).
Mr. Phil Henderson, Director of Athletics – After a stellar four-year varsity basketball and student career with Duke University, Mr. Henderson has accumulated over 17 years experience in teaching, sports management, and program development. He graduated from Duke University in 1990 with a BA in Philosophy & History and earned numerous awards and recognition including Duke University’s Most Valuable Athlete, Raleigh Sports Club’s North Carolina Basketball Player of the Year, and an NCAA Honorable Mention All-American athlete. Following college, and after a brief professional basketball career as a shooting guard (NBA, CBA, GBA, and FIBA), Mr. Henderson started and led a foundation, was community development and outreach director for the YMCA, was Executive Director of The Greater Chicago Inner-City Games, and was President of Basketball Worldwide (a full-service international basketball company).
Ms. Judy Muir, Advisor for College Counseling and Special Projects – Ms. Muir is a skilled veteran educator and consultant. She has worked in the college counseling arena for over 20 years, including as associate director of college counseling at The Kinkaid School, as an independent consultant, and as advisor for college placement and special projects at The Emery/Weiner School. She serves on the national advisory board for The Fisk Guide to Colleges and has been an active participant and leader in NACAC and TACAC. Ms. Muir also has over 20 years experience placing students in meaningful internships and apprenticeships around the world. Most recently, Ms. Muir has been working at Harvard University and, through the Graduate School of Education’s cutting edge research in the architecture of the developing brain, has been investigating how neuroscience and genetics can inform alert educators about teaching children. In a former life, Ms. Muir was also the head of lower school at Duchesne Academy and head of school at The Briarwood School.
Mr. Scott Morrison, High School Humanities – Mr. Morrison is a world traveler and educator. After graduating Cum Laude with a BA in English (minor in Music and German) from Marshall University, for six years he taught IB Literature and English at a high school in Shanghai, China. Then, after completing his Master’s degree in Humanities from the University of Chicago, Mr. Morrison has been teaching at the St. Andrew’s School (Nassau, The Bahamas).
Mr. Roy Conwell, High School Mathematics – Mr. Conwell is a quintessential life-long learner and Renaissance Man. Throughout the years he has collected two Bachelor’s degrees, a Master’s degree, and is working on his PhD. He has acquired literacy in Biblical Greek, Classical Greek, Modern Greek, Hebrew, Latin and German. He has Texas State teaching certification in Social Studies and Mathematics. His teaching journey has taken him to New York, Indiana, San Antonio, and Houston. He has taught AP Calculus, Pre-Calculus, Algebra II, Honors Geometry, Algebra I, Math Models, Economics, Government, Psychology, World History, World Geography, and American History. Most recently, he has been a mathematics department chair in HISD.
Dr. Ratana Magee, High School Science – Originally from Thailand, Dr. Magee is an accomplished educator. Since earning her PhD in Chemistry from Miami University (Ohio), she has been an associate professor with Chulagongkorn University (Bangkok, Thailand) and a math/science teacher with Spring Branch ISD. Most recently, she has been a science teacher with the Westchester Academy for International Studies, a charter institution within the Spring Branch ISD system. As a result, she has considerable experience with Pre-AP, Pre-IB, and IB curriculum. She has also served as the advisor for the school’s chapter of the National Honor Society and coordinator/tutor for the school’s Chemistry Olympiad.
Mr. Roland Jones, Director of Instrumental Music – Mr. Jones is an accomplished musician and educator, and popular with his students. He has been the Director of Instrumental Music for the Pine Crest Preparatory School (Fort Lauderdale, FL), the Director of Jazz Ensemble for Dillard High School Center for the Arts (FL), and the Director of Music for St. Peter’s Preparatory School (Jersey City, NJ). He earned a Masters degree in Education from Columbia University – Teachers College and an MM (Masters of Music) from Rutgers University – Mason Gross School of the Arts. He has taught orchestra, chorus, jazz band, concert band, wind ensemble, music appreciation, music theory, and Advanced Placement Music Theory. He has also served as an AP reader. He has performed professionally with Tower of Power, Ray Brown, Chaka Kahn, B.B. King, Chuck Mangione, Pattie LaBelle, Ernie Watts, Whitney Houston, James Brown, and Lionel Hampton to name just a few. And he also has credits on numerous recordings.
Ms. Martha Perkins-Bawara, Theater Arts – Ms. Perkins-Bawara leaves one Meritas school, North Broward Preparatory School, for another, The Village School, and we are thrilled to have her with us. She is a multi-talented artist and educator. In addition to her experience directing, choreographing, and staging musical theater, she has taught courses in musical theater, the history of comedy, theater history through improvisation, the fundamentals of fine acting, and so on. As a junior thespian club’s sponsor, she has selected and directed individual performances, and she facilitated district and state level competitions.
Ms. Paige Harris, Art Teacher – After earning a BFA in painting from Savannah College of Art and Design, Ms. Harris launched her career as an art educator and freelance artist. Her first position with Episcopal High school of Jacksonville, Florida, involved teaching art and art history, as well as designing and editing the school’s literary magazine. Her acumen with publications resulted in her appointment as the school’s communication director, which involved oversight of all school publications. After half a dozen years with EHS, she spent several years as a freelance artist and illustrator. And, now, having moved with her family to Houston, she is eager to return to the classroom and help The Village School establish its high school visual/fine arts program.
