Past Principals

Principal Gates
Former Principal Dr. Lisle Gates

Dr. Lisle Gates
2005 - 2010

Dr. Lisle Gates 2005 - 2010

The Castle View High School community fondly remembers Doctor Lisle Gates, the principal who started it all. When the school opened its doors for the first time in August of 2006, Gates welcomed his new students and staff with compassion, understanding, and respect; the beginning of the Sabercat tradition. Gates viewed the opening of a new high school as an opportunity to create something that was unique and powerful.

An active member in the field of education since 1968, Doctor Gates has been a dean, coach, teacher, and principal in high schools throughout the country. His ability to reach out to the individuals of the community has impacted many, and his emphasis on rigor, relevance, and relationships is ever present within the walls of Castle View High School.

Principal Calhoun
Former Principal Dr. James Calhoun

Dr. James Calhoun
2010 - 2016

Dr. James Calhoun 2010-2016

I can still vividly remember the interview for the Castle View High School principal's job. Over five hours of intense questioning, role plays, and performance tasks were all part of an experience unlike anything I had ever done. The whole process gave me a premonition of the type of transformational learning environment established by the founding principal, Dr. Lisle Gates, and the core team of teachers.

On the way home from the interview, I had an overwhelming feeling that I had to be selected for this job. My instincts kept telling me that this was a school not just talking about improving student learning, but one that was doing something to create better learning environments. Six years later, my hopes and prayers were answered and I can proudly say that Castle View High School continues to be a school leading the state in implementation of transformative and innovative educational practices.

Thinking back on my six years as the principal at CVHS, I am honored to have worked with staff, students, and the community as we have researched, implemented, taken risks, debated, and, frankly, been criticized for the hard work of adequately preparing students for an ever changing and complex world. The staff recognized the need to create ways to help students develop deeper and more meaningful ways to understand and apply what they learned. Parents jumped on board to support the transformative strategies used to help students learn. Our focus on preparing students for the future meant our school would look different than the school parents attended a generation ago. It is a bit strange to write about the schools accomplishments while I was the principal on the eve of the first day of school for students. Normally, this would be a night filled with tossing and turning for me. I would worry about oversleeping and missing the Senior Sunrise celebration. My sleep would be interrupted with dreams about the bleachers getting stuck so students don't have a place to sit for the opening assembly or a nightmare about the fire alarm being pulled. I worried about the internet going on the blink and that we may not get schedules to students. In essence, I dreamed about all the things that could go wrong that never did. Tonight I will lose sleep for a different reason, I will miss greeting 2100 students as they begin the 2016-2017 school year.

I am certainly excited and happy for the staff and students as they transition to new leadership. Rex Corr, the new principal, is a passionate and loyal educator who has been at CVHS for his ninth year. He understands the climate and culture of the school and community. He will lead a great group of teachers and support staff that all work with a great sense of urgency on the challenges facing public education today. This school's mission, to transform education, is at the very heart of the traditions that have been established over the last 10 years. I am so thrilled and proud I have been a part of helping make Castle View High School a very special place.

Principal Corr
Former Principal Dr. James Calhoun

Dr. Rex Corr
2016 - 2022

Dr. Rex Corr 2016-2022

It is with great pleasure that I write this introduction for our community and prospective students. I am honored and proud to serve as principal of Castle View High School. I joined the faculty of CVHS in 2008, and have served as principal since 2016. In my years here, I have come to know what a remarkable and caring community we serve. Our staff is continually grateful for the opportunity to work, learn, and grow with our students and families, as we continue our school's tradition of excellence.

The mission of Castle View High School is to transform high school learning through meaningful relationships, relevant learning, and a rigorous academic environment where every Castle View student will graduate with the skills and knowledge to be successful in the 21st Century world. At CVHS, these are not merely words above the door; this is the driving force behind our decisions, our interactions, and our approach to education. This is what we live!

Our key goal is to ensure that every student who walks through the doors of Castle View is provided the opportunity to own his or her learning in the optimal environment, through the most relevant experiences, and with the support of genuine connections with our caring staff. Achieving this goal is a shared responsibility of students, parents, and school personnel. This fundamental partnership supports student success in high school.

In my experience, there are four essential principles that promote a rewarding school experience. These are: 1) regular attendance, 2) maintaining a positive attitude and growth mindset in the learning environment, 3) hard work and perseverance (as the learning is rigorous!), and 4) involvement in athletics/activities and the greater school community. When students embrace these principles, they are far more likely to succeed. When we, as adults and role models, demonstrate value for these principles, students better appreciate their importance.

Throughout the year, we will communicate important information through our website: https://www.cvhs.dcsdk12.org/, our newsletter, and our app (available for iPhone and Android). However, should you have any questions, never hesitate to reach out to us by phone at 303-387-9000.

It's a great day to be a Sabercat!

Warm regards,

Dr. Rex Corr