Celebrating iSchool High at University Park’s Bradley Sharp as TPCSA Principal of the Year
Every great school is shaped by the students and people who lead it, and we are proud to celebrate an exceptional leader who exemplifies the heart of leadership in education: iSchool High at University Park’s Bradley Sharp, the 2026 Texas Public Charter School Association (TPCSA) Principal of the Year.
The TPCSA named Sharp as the 2026 Charter School Principal of the Year at its annual convention held in Dallas, Texas, on Monday, September 28. This recognition is a reflection of more than professional achievement. It represents a commitment to students, families, teachers, and the entire school community. Sharp has created an environment where students are encouraged to grow, educators are empowered to succeed, and every member of the school community feels valued.
His path into education was not initially planned. After graduating with his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Friends University, Sharp first considered a career in policing. During this time, he also reconnected with some of his former high school coaches because he could always envision himself as a teacher and coach. That momentum led him to earn his teaching certification and begin teaching at iSchool High – University Park. From there, Sharp was offered an opportunity to stay at iSchool and shift into a leadership role as Dean of Students and eventually campus director.
“I loved being able to support students and teachers and realized that (iSchool High) leadership gave me an opportunity to make an impact beyond just my own classroom,” Sharp said.
“That experience ultimately led me to pursue my master’s degree in Educational Leadership, earn my principal certification, and continue growing as a school leader. What started as needing a job after college turned into finding work that I genuinely love and a way to make a bigger impact for young people.”
Sharp has been the Campus Director of iSchool High at University Park since 2022 and was also named ResponsiveEd Campus Leader of the Year in the same year.
Building Bridges Through Leadership
Sharp sees himself as a bridge builder for students and educators. He knows that leadership is about more than managing a school—it is about building relationships and creating opportunities for them to grow, lead, and reach their potential.
“My responsibility is to help build pathways between where students are today and the opportunities available to them tomorrow. Every student comes to us with different experiences, strengths, and challenges, and I never want those things to determine what they have access to or what they believe is possible for themselves.”
“I want to also build those same bridges for the educators on my campus. I want to create opportunities for people to grow, challenge themselves, step into leadership, and become the best educators and leaders they can be. Someone did that for me early in my career, and that has always stayed with me.”
His leadership philosophy focuses on servant leadership. Sharp ensures he listens first, understands different perspectives, and focuses on his response rather than reacting.
“I believe you can hold high expectations while still supporting people, developing them, and treating them with respect. I also don’t believe being the principal means I need to have every answer,” he said.
“We have incredibly talented people in our building, and part of my responsibility is creating the space for them to lead, take ownership, and make our school better.”
Being named TPCSA Principal of the Year is a tremendous honor, and reflects the collective efforts of the students, educators, families, and community members who make ResponsiveEd and iSchool High special.
We celebrate Bradley Sharp not only for what he has accomplished, but for the example he sets every day. His leadership, dedication, and commitment to students make a lasting difference.
Learn more about iSchool High at University Park Campus Director and 2026 TPCSA Principal of the Year Bradley Sharp below.
Q&A with Bradley Sharp
Q: What does it mean to be named the TPCSA Principal of the Year, and what was your reaction when you learned that you won the award?
A: Honestly, my first reaction was complete surprise. I received the email while I was in a debrief with members of my team, quickly skimmed it, and had one of those moments where I had to read it again to make sure I understood what I was looking at. I don’t think the significance of it really hit me right away.
As I have had time to process it, I am incredibly honored. To be recognized by TPCSA and the broader Texas charter school community means a great deal to me. I am proud of the work we are doing at University Park and grateful that our school and the people behind that work are being recognized.
At the same time, I have a hard time thinking of this as an individual award. A principal is only as successful as the people willing to do the work alongside them. My name may be on the award, but it represents our teachers, staff, students, families, leadership team, and partners who have built this school together. I get the privilege of leading an incredible group of people, and I see this recognition as a celebration of what we have accomplished together.
Q: Is there anyone you would like to thank?
A: “There are honestly too many people to name individually. Nothing I have accomplished in education has happened by myself. I am incredibly thankful for the faculty and staff at University Park who show up every day for our students, for our students and families who trust us with their education, and for our partners at Lone Star College – University Park who have helped us build something really special. I am also grateful for the leadership and support throughout ResponsiveEd Texas, at the district and brand level. So many people behind the scenes invest in our campuses and help make the work we do possible.
I am also incredibly grateful for the leaders who have invested in me personally throughout my career. Kevin Sevin, my former Regional Director and a mentor throughout my leadership journey, was one of the first people to see leadership potential in me and encourage me to take that next step. His belief in me helped change the direction of my career, and I will always be grateful for that.
I especially want to thank Robert Riggs, my superintendent, for nominating me for this recognition and for the trust he has placed in me over the years. Robert has continued to challenge me to grow, supported me as we have pushed our campus forward, and encouraged me to think beyond where I am today toward the leader I can become in the future. Having a leader who supports you and holds you to high expectations has had a tremendous impact on my growth. I am incredibly grateful for his mentorship, confidence in me, and continued investment in my leadership.
And personally, I have to thank my wife, Lauren. Leadership doesn’t always stay neatly within the school day, and she has supported me through the long days, late conversations, celebrations, frustrations, and everything in between.
More than anything, I am thankful for every person who has allowed me to be part of their story. This recognition may have my name attached to it, but there are a whole lot of fingerprints on it.”
Q: What is something your staff has taught you as a leader?
A: “My staff has taught me that my title really doesn’t matter nearly as much as the work we are doing together. At the end of the day, we are all contributing to the work.
Being the principal doesn’t mean I automatically have the best perspective or the right answer. Our teachers, advisors, support staff, and campus leaders experience our school through different lenses, and I have learned a tremendous amount by listening to them and trusting their expertise. They have taught me to ask questions, seek perspective, and sometimes change my thinking.
They have also reminded me that leadership isn’t about carrying everything yourself. We have talented people throughout our campus, and when you trust people, give them ownership, and are willing to work alongside them, they will often take something further than you could have on your own. I think that has made me a better leader. The title may come with additional responsibility, but it doesn’t separate me from the work or the people doing it.”
Q: What is your favorite part about working with the students? Do you have a favorite memory?
A: “My favorite part about working with students is simply having the opportunity to positively impact them. Part of our mission is to develop moral and academic excellence. The academic piece is incredibly important, but I think the moral piece can be even more challenging in today’s climate.
I try to remind our students that we all have a pretty simple superpower: we can choose to show up every day, treat each other with kindness and respect, have some fun, and learn along the way. If I can model that for students and help them understand the impact they can have on the people around them, then I feel like I am doing an important part of my job.
As far as a favorite memory, I am fortunate enough to live it again every school year. At iSchool High at University Park, May brings us two graduations. I get to watch many of our students walk across the stage at Lone Star College and then watch them cross another stage at their high school graduation. Seeing years of hard work by students, families, teachers, staff, and our college partners come to fruition during those two celebrations is incredible. I don’t think watching our students cross those stages will ever get old.”
Q: What are some things that you hope your students will remember most about iSchool High?
A: “I hope they remember, first and foremost, that the adults here truly cared about them. I want them to look back and know that they were supported, challenged, and surrounded by people who genuinely wanted them to succeed.
I also hope they recognize that their time at iSchool helped prepare them for whatever came next. For some students, that will be a four-year university; for others, the military, a career, or another path entirely. Success does not have to look the same for every student. What matters to me is that when they leave us, they feel prepared and confident taking that next step.
But more than anything, I hope they look back and smile. I hope they remember the fun, the relationships, the people who believed in them, and even some of the craziness that comes with high school. I want there to be a sense of gratitude when they think about the halls of iSchool, just as we are grateful that we had the opportunity to be part of their story.”
To learn more about iSchool High at University Park or to enroll, visit ischoolhigh.com/universitypark.
