When Matthew Knapp saw an online posting for the middle school principal vacancy at Houston Schools, he said it was the “perfect opportunity.”
“It’s a position I was learning to really love in my hometown,” Knapp said, “getting to work with some people I already knew and in a school that is growing in exciting ways.”
Knapp is returning to Houston, where he attended K-12 and graduated in 2002, as the next Houston middle school principal. He was hired during last week’s board of education monthly meeting to replace Tracy Hughes, who resigned after four years to return to Raymondville Schools as superintendent.
Knapp was selected from three finalists who interviewed with students and staff serving on the hiring committee.
“Throughout the interview process, Mr. Knapp demonstrated tremendous positive energy, strong instructional leadership and a deep commitment to student success and staff collaboration,” said Dr. Justin Copley, superintendent of Houston Schools. “We believe he will be a great fit for our school community and will continue building a positive culture at Houston Middle School.”
After graduating from HHS, Knapp earned a bachelor’s degree in History and a minor in Political Science from Missouri State University. He taught freshman Physical Science one year at Liberty before moving to Willow Springs – his wife’s hometown – in 2008 to teach American History. Knapp later earned a master’s degree in History from MSU.
During his 18-year career at Willow Springs, Knapp has been head of the history department for 15 years, student council sponsor for 17 years and taught dual credit history through MSU-West Plains at the high school. He got his first taste in administrative work the past three years as he worked closely with the district’s administrative team to assist in building Willow Springs’ Career Technical Education program.
“It helped inspire the next phase of my career development,” Knapp said.
As he continued teaching American History, Knapp began adding more CTE classes to his schedule the past few years. For the 2025-26 school year, he is leading two Engineering courses, a drone aviation class and three social studies classes. He is also running a recycling program he built himself.
Knapp, who completed his specialist degree from Arkansas State University in Building Level Administration in 2025, has been part of an administrative internship at Willow Springs the past year.
“I found myself really drawn to the middle school,” he said.
Knapp and his wife, Jennifer, have been married 21 years and have a 13-year-old son, Carter, who will join him at Houston Schools. They are active at CrossWay Fellowship Church in Willow Springs, where the Knapps have taught preteens for 19 years and co-lead a young adults group for high school graduates. He has been an assistant pastor the last nine years.
Knapp will join Houston Schools on July 1. He will be the seventh staff member who graduated from the HHS class of 2002.
“As middle school principal this coming school year,” he said, “I plan to build relationships, promote student engagement and encourage our talented staff to help our students keep their love of learning alive.”