Posted Sunday, August 15, 2004

HCS Welcomes New Elementary Principal
Mr. Ron Matthews has joined the HCS administrative team as the new Elementary Principal

Mr. Ron Matthews brings a wealth of experience to the HCS staff, having served as principal of a Kindergarten through eighth grade school in Ventura for twenty years and a kindergarten through twelfth grade school in Garden Grove for five years. During his time in Ventura, the school grew to 285 students and a staff of thirty. Ron also serves as a chaplain (volunteer position) for various cruise lines an occasionally as a guest lecturer.

Mr. Matthews has a degree in theology, a bachelor's degree in education from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri and a Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Southwest University in New Orleans.

In 1982, Ron became a licensed minister and was ordained in 1993. He is a credentialed chaplain with Ventura County Sheriff's Department and a member of the crisis response team with International Conference of Police Chaplains. Ron received certification in critical incident stress management with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation and the American Association of Christian Counselors.

Ron married his wife Deborah in 1968. Deborah is a schoolteacher with over twenty years of experience. They have one daughter, Alicia, who is an emergency room nurse at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura.

Mr. Matthews may be contacted by calling 805-494-9355, ext. 227, or through email at rmatthews@hillcrestcs.org.