Mr. Greg Stickel, the Founder and Founding Principal of Harbour Pointe Preparatory Academy, brings an extraordinary 31 years of administrative experience across Ohio, South Carolina, and Florida. His career reflects a deep commitment to educational excellence, innovation, and the belief that schools should nurture the whole child.
Throughout his career, Mr. Stickel has held leadership positions in diverse educational settings, gaining insight into the unique needs of students and families across multiple states. His work has consistently focused on building strong school cultures, empowering teachers, and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
In the Greater Jacksonville area, Mr. Stickel has distinguished himself as a founding principal of two charter schools in Duval County. Both schools opened successfully under his leadership and quickly became high-performing institutions, recognized for their academic rigor and supportive environments. His ability to launch schools from the ground up demonstrates not only his organizational and administrative expertise but also his vision for creating sustainable, student-centered learning communities.
A cornerstone of Mr. Stickel’s leadership is his focus on hiring and retaining the best teachers. He believes that great schools are built by great educators, and he works tirelessly to create an environment where teachers feel valued, supported, and inspired. This commitment is evident in the 2024–2025 academic year, when his school achieved a remarkable 100% staff retention rate. By fostering stability among faculty, Mr. Stickel ensures that students benefit from consistent, high-quality instruction and mentorship.
Equally important to his philosophy is the focus on the whole child. Mr. Stickel emphasizes that education must extend beyond test scores to include the arts, athletics, and character development. He has championed programs that encourage creativity, teamwork, and self-expression, believing that these experiences are essential to raising well-rounded young people. His schools are built on high academic and behavioral expectations, but always with the guiding principle that “we are raising kids, not test scores.”
Mr. Stickel also prioritizes parental involvement, recognizing that families are essential partners in the educational process. He actively cultivates strong relationships between parents and schools, ensuring that communication, collaboration, and shared responsibility are at the heart of student success.
Looking forward, Mr. Stickel is deeply committed to opening a new school in Oceanway. His vision for Harbour Pointe Preparatory Academy is to create a place where students can grow academically, feel comfortable being themselves, and experience joy in learning. He envisions a school where students, teachers, and parents arrive with a smile and leave with a smile every day.
With decades of experience, a proven record of success in founding and leading high-performing schools, and a philosophy rooted in compassion, rigor, and community, Mr. Greg Stickel is dedicated to ensuring that Harbour Pointe Preparatory Academy becomes a beacon of educational excellence in Jacksonville.