SAGU alumnus John Petree currently serves as the Director of Administrative Services at Region 18 Education Service Center (ESC).  As director, Petree supervises 30 people who train and support school superintendents and principals in their region’s 33 school districts and 3 charter schools.

Petree came to ESC in 2006 as a Superintendent/Principal trainer and became the director of the teacher certification program, where he led two years before rising to his current position.  Prior to working for ESC, Petree served as a principal for six years after teaching elementary for four years.  He has also done adjunct university work in teacher certification. 

According to Petree, “The best thing about my current job is that it is never boring!  There is a new challenge every day.  It requires a lot of problem solving, which I love.”

John came to SAGU in 1995 under a partnership the university had with Dallas Christian College at the time.  He graduated in ’96 with a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Elementary Ed. with a specialization in English).  “My favorite thing about SAGU was definitely the professors,” said Petree.  “They had a very caring and nurturing attitude.” 

Petree earned his Master’s Degree at the University of Texas Permian Basin, where he also completed his Principal and Superintendent Certification.  He is currently completing his doctorate at Texas Tech.

John and his wife HollyAnn live in Midland, Texas, with their four children, Callie (9), Noah (7), Toben (3), and Ava (2).  The Petrees operate an adoption agency and orphan relief organization, Addy’s Hope, that works in Liberia, West Africa.

“My education at SAGU definitely prepared me for what I am doing now,” said Petree.  “As a teacher, I excelled from day one with the excellent training I received.  This firm foundation prepared me for the future challenges of administration, and for my work in preparing future teachers.”

Petree plans to continue his work at ESC.  He would like to someday become the Executive Director or possibly become a superintendent or work in education at the state level.