I have 25 years in education. My experience includes being a special education teacher, an elementary Counselor, a Special Education Coordinator, Academic Dean, and Assistant Principal. I am the new Principal at Nimitz Middle School. I am so honored to be a Nimitz SeaHawk and am looking forward to an exciting and productive school year!

Mrs. Lafuente-Garza received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology in 1995 from University of Texas at San Antonio. She also holds a Masters in Education Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio (2005). She has taught Texas History, World History, World Geography, Health and Physical Education. She has also coached volleyball, basketball, track and tennis. Mrs. Lafuente-Garza has worked here at Nimitz for the past 3 years as an Assistant Prinicipal.

Mrs. Northway obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) in Glassboro, New Jersey. She earned her Master of Arts in Educational Administration in 2003 from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Mrs. Northway was a Special Education teacher at Kirby Middle School, teaching a Self Contained Behavior Unit and Resource Reading. Most recently she was Assistant Principal at Floresville Middle School in Floresville, Texas. This is her 20th year as an educator.

Mr. Sickel received his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 2001 from Baker University. He holds a Masters in Education Administration from Texas A&M Kingsville. During his career he has taught History, grades 6th, 7th, and 8th, and Science, grades 6th and 8th. He also has High School and Middle School coaching experience in baseball, basketball, football and track. Before coming to Nimitz he was an Assistant Principal at Seguin High School.

I graduated from North Texas State University in Denton with my Bachelor in Education, and then followed with my Masters in Educational Administration from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. I taught Bilingual and ESL, Speech Therapy, Elementary and Secondary education. I have also worked in curriculum, instruction and campus administration. Since 2003, I have had the privilege to be a member of our proud Nimitz family and consider it an honor to join in celebrating our fighting Seahawks.

Prior to enthusiastically assuming the role of Assistant Director for STEM Academy, Mr. Westhoefer opened Claudia Taylor Johnson High School and taught Chemistry and Physics. Previoulsy, Mr. Westhoefer was an educator at MacArthur High School and San Perlita High School. During his tenure at those schools, he taught Integrated Chemistry and Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy and Physiology, and Latin. Mr. Westhoefer enjoys spending time with his wife Samantha, also an educator, and their two children Kylie and Kaleb. His educational philosophy is guided by the words, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

This is my first year at Nimitz and I am very excited to work with the administration, teachers, and their families to help ensure the success of our wonderful students. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I received my Bachelor's degree from the University of California, San Diego , a graduate fellowship at California State University, Sacramento, my masters from California State University, Los Angeles, and a program in College Counseling from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).