Faculty

Brandon Jackson comes to HPISD as a media instructor with over 20 years in education. Mr. Jackson is an energetic and outgoing perfectionist who is driven to make an impact, both in the lives of his students and in the world around him. Mr. Jackson has taught AV Production in Dallas ISD, Irving ISD and Lewisville ISD. From producing game shows to newscasts, from talk shows to sports broadcasts, countless students have taken the experiences he’s given them and gone on to professional AV careers.  Mr. Jackson has also been a producer and filmmaker for more than 25 years. He specializes in faith-based projects, producing videos for Christian authors, promotional content for various organizations and even a series of national commercials. Mr. Jackson’s greatest joy outside of the classroom comes when he gets to combine his love for international travel with filmmaking. Mr. Jackson has produced video projects in Italy, France, Iceland and China, to name a few. His most rewarding project to date was a documentary chronicling Iranian and Ukrainian refugees in Athens, Greece. This documentary was selected for 3 different film festivals in 2022. Besides filmmaking, Mr. Jackson has a background in radio, podcasting and sports production. He holds a B.S. in Mass Communication from Abilene Christian University and a M.Ed. from University of North Texas.

ENGINEERING DESIGN

Jeff Barrows has been teaching AP Physics at Highland Park High School for over twenty-five years. Two years ago, he accepted a position teaching AP Environmental Science, as part of the MAPS Environmental Architecture program. His education includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from the University of Central Missouri and a Master’s Degree in Natural Sciences from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He received the Frederick E. Terman Engineering Scholastic Award in 2007 and 2010 from Stanford University, for his contribution to the education of high school students in general and for the exceptional influence on the engineering career of two former students. The Park Cities TAG Parent Association selected Jeff as an Outstanding Teacher of Gifted and Talented Students, and he has received teaching awards from the American Chemical Society and the Texas Math and Sciences Coaches Association. He currently serves as the district’s Centennial Distinguished Chair for STEM and most recently, received the 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year award.

Yvette Hightower is passionate about architecture and loves facilitating hands-on learning about the environment through architectural design. She loves exploring the architecture field with students and helping them to appreciate the built environment around them. She earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Louisiana State University and a Master of Teaching from TWU. Prior to teaching, she worked for Humphreys & Partners Architects in multifamily for 17+ years. After finishing her master’s degree, Yvette had a diverse set of experiences including architectural consulting, tutoring, substitute teaching and volunteering. She was a catechist and 2nd grade religious education teacher and coordinator at St. Ann’s for 8 years. Yvette is the vice-president of Magnolia Park HOA, and is an officer and active member of the Assistance League of Coppell, which is a non-profit serving the needs of the Coppell area.  Yvette’s husband of almost 30 years works in renewable and alternative fuels. She has a daughter who lives in Denver and works in enterprise sales and a son majoring in architecture at UT Austin. Yvette’s hobbies include traveling, crafting, gardening, baking, and tap dancing.

BRAIN SCIENCE AND HEALTH

I graduated from Baylor University with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a minor in Spanish. Prior to teaching I worked at the City of Dallas in the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability as an internal Environmental Consultant. I am wrapping up my master's in Education: Curriculum and Instruction of Science. This is my fourth year at HPISD. I have taught at MIS/HPMS and HPHS. Science is my passion and helping students love it as much as I do is my favorite part of my job. I am a Dallas native and a Highland Park Alumni.