Founding Principal, Manor New Technology High School

Steve Zipkes

As the founding Principal of the highly acclaimed and nationally recognized Manor New Technology High School, Mr. Zipkes’ leadership promotes quality instruction, teacher development, student success, and STEM education through Project Based Learning.

MNTH is a STEM public high school within the Manor Independent School District and is the only Nationally Designated Project Based Learning Training and Demonstration School site within the consortium of schools of the New Technology Network.

Numerous accolades have been bestowed upon MNTH, distinguishing the school in many arenas including the teaching of 21st Century Skills as an Apple Distinguished School for the past 4 years, being recognized as a Model School by the International Center for Leadership in Education, and a Secondary Showcase School by the Center for Secondary School Redesign. Additionally, in 2009 MNTH became a National Project Lead the Way School for the teaching of sequencing engineering, including published case studies and papers validating the promising practices at MNTH. This year MNTH was recognized in the top 22% of high schools in the country and awarded a Bronze Medal, A Nationally Recognized High School by US News and Report and most recently, Manor New Technology High School was featured as A School That Works, “Project –Based Learning: Success Start to Finish” by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, Edutopia.

Mr. Zipkes and a team of teachers presented at the Achievement Gap Initiative at Harvard University in 2009 in response to Manor New Tech’s recognition in the study. Furthermore, in his March 3, 2010 speech, US Secretary Arne Duncan highlighted Manor New Technology High School as a “model school for reaching underserved youth” and recently, Mr. Zipkes was a featured guest on EdWeek’s National Webinar, “The New Wave of STEM-Focused Schools” as well as a featured blog on Partnership for 21st Century Skills website; New Thinking for New Schools for the 21st Century. Mr. Zipkes has led 2 high schools and one middle school to their first ever State Exemplary Ratings, and 2011, Steven was named an Apple Distinguished Educator, one of only approximately 1500 worldwide.

Mr. Zipkes received his BS in Radio-Television-Film from The University of Texas at Austin and his M.Ed. in School Administration for Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas. Mr. Zipkes holds a Mid-Management and Superintendent Certification and has served in both of those roles throughout his career.