New Assistant Prinicpal at Winfield Scott: Chris Garzone

Loretta George

1 year ago

Chris Garzone, 53, is the new Assistant Principal at Winfield Scott Elementary, Fort Scott, starting August 1.

Winfield Scott Elementary School, 316 W. 10th Street, Fort Scott.

From Prescott, Arizona, he attended Sterling College on a scholarship to play football and baseball and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health and Physical Education K-12.

Garzone chose a career in education because of the lasting impact teachers and coaches had in his life.

He is in his 28th year in education.

Those years include Gallup, New Mexico, at a small catholic school.

“I was the K-12 Physical Education teacher, taught 10th grade health, was the Athletic Director, and coached various sports.”

They moved to Fort Scott, where his wife Laura taught at St. Mary’s and he was hired at Nevada R5 Schools, teaching elementary physical education K-2 for one year, then taught health classes at Heartland Behavioral Health School for five years. He coached softball, baseball, football and basketball while in Nevada.

In 2005, he completed the Educational Leadership Program from Pittsburg State University and was hired as an assistant principal at Pittsburg Community Middle School.

After one year, he transferred to Pittsburg High School and was an assistant principal for 17 years.

“The best part of being an administrator is the relationships that have occurred between students, staff, the families and the community,” he said. “We are all on a team focused on doing what’s right for each individual child. Observing teachers and students having success inside and outside the classroom is very rewarding for me. I am a servant leader who places others’ needs above my own.”

“I accepted the Assistant Principal position at Winfield Scott because professionally it will be a good challenge for me, switching from secondary to elementary,” he said. “Fort Scott is an amazing community. My wife grew up here and this small town is a good place to live and be involved in.”

He is celebrating his 30th wedding anniversary with Laura Tuchscherer of Fort Scott this August, he said.

They have four children: Haley, a May 2023 Kansas University Graduate pursuing a masters degree in Public Health, with the intent on attending medical school; Austin, attending Pittsburg State University in the Automotive Certification Program; Molly, at PSU pursuing Elementary Education; Tyler, a junior at Fort Scott High School,who plans to play basketball for the Tigers.

“Our children have blessed our lives in so many ways,” he said.