Our Team

Get to know the people behind the mission—driven by a shared purpose to build better schools, one leader at a time.

We Bring the Value of Professionalism

Outstanding Academic Achievement

Passionate Educators

Committed to Empowering Leaders

Strategic Insights & Connections

At TheSchoolHouse302, we believe that great leadership is the cornerstone of educational success. Our team is composed of passionate educators, leadership experts, and dedicated professionals who are committed to empowering school leaders through practical tools, strategic insights, and meaningful connections. With decades of combined experience in education, we bring both research-based knowledge and real-world application to everything we do.

Book Us for Your Next Conference

our leadership member

Meet Our Team

Dr. Joseph Jones

Superintendent of the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District

Dr. T.J. Vari

Senior Director of Product Strategy at MaiaLearning

Victoria Jones

Financial Officer and Educational Strategist

Brody

Production Assistant

Dr. T.J. Vari

Senior Director of Product Strategy
at MaiaLearning

About Dr. T.J. Vari

Dr. T.J. Vari is the Senior Director of Product Strategy at MaiaLearning. He is a recognized thought leader regarding college and career readiness and addresses topics ranging from social and emotional learning to micro-credentials to advanced course work for high school students. His mission is to ensure that all students have a post-secondary plan that brings them joy and success as graduates from high school and college.

He is the former Deputy Superintendent of Secondary Schools and District Operations in the fastest growing school system in Delaware. He was middle school assistant principal and principal and high school English teacher and department chair. His master’s degree is in School Leadership and his doctorate is in Innovation and Leadership where he accepted an Award for Academic Excellence given to one doctoral student per graduating class.

He holds several honors and distinctions, including his past appointment as President of the Delaware Association for School Administrators, his work with the Delaware Association for School Principals, and the honor in accepting the Paul Carlson Administrator of the Year Award. In 2024, he was named Person of the Year by the Delaware Association of Assistant Superintendents.

His efforts span beyond the K-12 arena into higher education where he holds adjunct appointments, teaching courses at the masters and doctoral level. He is a national presenter on topics of school leadership and the co-founder of TheSchoolHouse302, a leadership development institute.

T.J. is a co-author on 6 books for school leaders and a regular contributor to educational leadership publications and podcasts. Along with Joseph Jones, he co-authored Candid and Compassionate Feedback: Transforming Everyday Practice in Schools. With Salome Thomas-EL and Joseph Jones, he co-authored Passionate Leadership: Creating a Culture of Success in Every School, Building a Winning Team: The Power of a Magnetic Reputation and the Need to Recruit Top Talent in Every School, and Retention for a Change: Motivate, Inspire, and Energize Your School Culture. With Joseph Jones and Connie Hamilton, he published 7 Mindshifts for School Leaders: Finding New Ways to Think About Old Problems. And, with Todd Whitaker, Connie Hamilton, and Joe Jones, he published Invest In Your Best: 9 Strategies to Grow, Support, and Celebrate Your Most Valuable Teachers.

Dr. Joseph Jones

Superintendent of the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District
in Delaware.

About Dr. Joseph Jones

Dr. Joseph Jones is the Superintendent of the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District in Delaware. Joe is a former high school social studies teacher, assistant principal, and principal. As principal, he was named the Delaware Secondary Principal of the Year and during his tenure, Delcastle Technical High School was the first high school to receive the state’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award.

He received his doctorate from the University of Delaware in educational leadership and was awarded the outstanding doctoral student award of his class. Currently, Joe works closely with local and state leaders on student achievement and accountability and has spearheaded an aggressive and successful campaign to ensure student success.

Joe is also an adjunct professor, teaching and designing curriculum, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels for various universities. He presents nationally on topics of school leadership and is the co-founder of the leadership development institute, TheSchoolHouse302.

Joe is a co-author on 5 books for school leaders and a regular contributor to educational leadership publications and podcasts. Along with T.J. Vari, he co-authored Candid and Compassionate Feedback: Transforming Everyday Practice in Schools. With Salome Thomas-EL and T.J. Vari, he co-authored Passionate Leadership: Creating a Culture of Success in Every School, Building a Winning Team: The Power of a Magnetic Reputation and the Need to Recruit Top Talent in Every School, and Retention for a Change: Motivate, Inspire, and Energize Your School Culture.

And, with T.J. Vari and Connie Hamilton, his more recent book is 7 Mindshifts for School Leaders: Finding New Ways to Think About Old Problems.