I began my teaching career in 1995 as an 8th grade science teacher and coach.  After ten years and two different schools, I became an Assistant Principal at Nimitz Middle School, then Reagan High School.  In 2015 I became the Principal of Lopez Middle School and in 2020, Principal of Madison High School. 

Duties and Responsibilities
Title IX Coordinator
Campus Behavior Coordinator

Howdy! My name is Heather Gafke and I'm incredibly excited to introduce myself as the new Director of the Agriscience Magnet Program (AMP). It is both a privilege and honor to step into this new role, and I am eager to dive in and get to know everyone. As a passionate leader, I firmly believe in leading with heart and enthusiasm. My goal is to cultivate a dynamic community that inspires our students to reach their fullest potential. I bring 13 years of experience in education and an unwavering commitment to excellence. I hold an undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University, a master's from Texas A&M International University, and I am currently pursuing my doctorate at Abilene Christian University. My love for learning drives me to inspire our students to be lifelong learners.

When I am not at work, you can find me cruising through life, one ocean adventure at a time. I dream of seeing all the beautiful blues of the ocean. I've been happily married for nearly 20 years and have two wonderful kids. Additionally, my niece and nephew are living with us. Just in case four teenagers wasn't enough to keep a lively pace at home, our two beloved Boxers add joy to our chaos.

I am truly looking forward to an exciting school year and the wonderful opportunities ahead for our AMP students. Please feel free to reach out to me - I would love to hear from you!

Duties & Responsibilities:

The AMP Director oversees a wide range of responsibilities to ensure the smooth operation of the program. These duties include managing the AMP discipline to maintain a conducive learning environment and tracking attendance to ensure student participation. The director is also in charge of the AMP budget, which involves allocating resources effectively across various needs. Building operations and campus safety are critical areas, requiring coordination of maintenance, custodial tasks, and implementation of safety and crisis plans. The director facilitates the use of the facility, including event setup and ensuring the grounds are well-maintained. Additionally, they oversee the Continuous Improvement and Innovation Plan (CIIP) and the Customer Relationship Management System (CRMS), play a pivotal role in organizing AMP events, and manage the School Assistance Fund (SAF) and Campus Activity Fund (CAF). The director also supports academic excellence by coordinating student teacher placements, maintaining teacher and AMP websites for effective communication, and developing the master schedule to optimize educational delivery.

I am a proud graduate of Madison High School, ℅ ‘97! I spent 10 years working in Civil Engineering before becoming a Middle School Math and Science teacher in SAISD. I taught technology courses most of my career, which include AV Production, Photography, Graphic Design, Engineering, Architecture, Robotics, Yearbook and Web Design. I joined NEISD in 2016 where I became a teacher at Madison High School! I became an Assistant Principal in January 2021 and have enjoyed being a part of this campus as a student, a teacher and now, as an administrator. In 2023, I moved over to the curriculum side of administration, where I serve as the Curriculum AP for Madison. I have also been a college professor since 2018 at Northwest Vista where I still get to enjoy teaching film courses. 

I have 3 amazing kids of my own and have had the privilege of watching one of them walk across the graduation stage as a Maverick! I truly love this community and feel honored to be a continued part of it.

Duties & Responsibilities:
Curriculum

I started teaching High School Social Studies in 2011; and have been at Madison since 2014 as a Teacher, Instructional Dean, and now as an Assistant Principal.  I have four grown children, all who have attended Madison.  In fact, including myself, 15 members of my family have been Madison students.   Once a Mav, always a Mav.

I have been a member of the North East Learning Community for 34 years. I have had the privilege of working at 1 Elementary, 4 Middle Schools, and 2 High Schools. I have been a part of opening two campuses. I have worked as a teacher, counselor and serve as a current Assistant Principal. Most recently, I joined Madison Community 6 years ago. My sweet husband, Gene and I have been married for 27 years. We are the proud parents of two dogs, Karma and Molly are both well-loved and spoiled. I love traveling, outdoor activities, movies, and summer with all the fun that brings.

The 2024-2025 school years kicks off my 10th year with NEISD. I have proudly served our NEISD family on the elementary, middle school, and now high school levels. My degrees and certifications include psychology, special education, school counseling, and school administration. My husband and I do our best to keep up with our two amazing daughters and one very spoiled pup. I love spending time with my family, traveling, cooking/baking, reading, sci-fi, and all things Formula One racing. Now for what you really want to know – I am all about what’s best for kids. I lead with my heart in all I do as an educator. I believe in compassionate accountability. We have to hold our kids accountable for the choices they make, but that doesn’t mean we stop leading with love, kindness, and respect along the way. My partnership with you, parents and guardians, is a critical step in ensuring our Madison Mavericks realize their fullest potential. Working together is the only way we help our Mavericks overcome challenges, celebrate successes, and graduate with their heads held high as they prepare to tackle life beyond high school. I am so excited to join the Madison Family and serve and support our Mavericks in countless ways. We are going to have a fantastic year! GO MAVS!

Duties & Responsibilities:

Discipline
Textbooks