During his first semester at TCU, HARRISON GILLASPY ’17, a physical education major and member of the football team, struggled with classes. During a concussion protocol test, an athletic trainer discovered that he might have dyslexia and referred him to the athletic academic services office. There, Gillaspy began tutoring sessions with Virginia Elder, a retired teacher.

“She completely changed the way that I was reading and annotating and highlighting and just little strategies to help me retain the important information,” Gillaspy said, “and it changed my trajectory.” By his senior year, Gillaspy was soaring through his classes; he graduated with a 3.49 GPA.

Harrison Gillaspy, right, is the principal of Splendora’s Piney Woods Elementary. Courtesy of Harrison Gillaspy

Gillaspy first taught physical education in a Fort Worth elementary school. His next position took him to the New Caney school district, near Houston, to coach football, basketball, track and soccer. He then moved 6 miles up the road to Splendora, Texas, to teach social studies. Less than a year later, he embraced another new challenge: coordinating an after-school tutoring program for the district’s six schools.

In the job, Gillaspy worked closely with school district leadership; he also continued working on a master’s of educational administration, which he completed in 2023. Meanwhile, an elementary school principal recruited him as assistant principal, a position that involved moving among schools as needs arose.

Today, Gillaspy serves as principal of Splendora’s Piney Woods Elementary, a leadership position typically filled by professionals 20 years his senior.

“It is extremely unusual for someone to become a principal at 28 years old,” said Carrie Garza, chief learning officer of the Splendora school district. “Harrison has the wisdom of someone much older. He has an unusual ability to be unwavering in his decisions, yet humble and coachable.”

“TCU taught me how to manage my time,” Gillaspy said, “and just gave me a mental toughness that I needed to have this early success.”