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Hartland High School

Hartland High School
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Principal

Administrative Staff

Administrative Staff

 
Principal  James Fitzgerald
Assistant Principal  A-G
 JD Wheeler
 Assistant Principal H-P  Patrick Borg
 Dean of Students Q-Z Jessica Guss
 Athletic Director  Brian Hassler 
 

James Fitzgerald

Wayne State University, Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Science and a minor in Physical Education.  University of Michigan Dearborn, Masters in Educational Leadership, Administrative Certificate.  
 
James graduated from Dearborn Heights Crestwood High School in 2000.  After earning his undergraduate degree, he began his teaching career in 2006 with Garden City Public Schools for a year, followed by 9 years with Wayne Westland Community Schools.  As a classroom teacher, James taught a wide variety of science and physical education courses in grades 6-12.  During that time he also had the opportunity to earn his masters in educational leadership, complete an administrative internship, and coach multiple high school sports.  In 2016, James became the Assistant Principal at Fowlerville Junior High School where he spent five years.  James then spent the past 2 school years as an Assistant Principal at Hartland High School and is currently in his second year as the Principal of Hartland High School.      

JD Wheeler

Central Michigan University, Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a minor in History, Oakland University Masters of Science in Educational Studies. 

JD graduated in 1997 from Laker High School in Pigeon Michigan. After earning his degree and playing baseball for Central Michigan University, JD briefly played in the minor leagues for the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He began his career in education teaching physical education at Grand Blanc High School in the fall of 2005. In addition to teaching at Grand Blanc for 10 years, JD was also the Varsity Baseball coach for 9 years. JD joined Hartland High School’s administrative team as the Athletic Director in 2015. JD is now in his second year as an Assistant Principal at Hartland High School.     

Jessica Guss

Eastern Michigan University, Bachelor of Science in Education with majors in Math and Language Arts and a minor in Science.  Michigan State University, Masters in K-12 Administration, Administrative Certificate.
 
Jessica graduated from Brighton High School in 2001.  After earning her undergraduate degree, she began her teaching career in 2007 in Florida and returned to Michigan to teach in 2009.  Once she returned, she taught Math, English, and Science at Dansville Middle School and later, English and Science at Scranton Middle School in Brighton.  She was a leader in assessment as well as on the school improvement teams, led NJHS, and served on several district committees.  
Jessica is now in her second year at Hartland High School where she is an Assistant Principal. 

 

Brian Hassler

University of Detroit Mercy, Bachelor of Science with a double major in Athletic Training and English, Concordia University Irvine Masters of Arts in Coaching and Athletic Administration. 
 
Brian graduated in 1993 from Sandusky High School in Sandusky, Michigan. After earning his degree from the University of Detroit Mercy, He began his career in educational athletics as an athletic trainer at Bishop Foley in the fall of 1997. In addition to being an athletic trainer at Bishop Foley for 18 years, Brian also coached track and boys basketball before taking over as the Athletic Director in 2015. In 2020, Brian took over as the Athletic Director for Rochester Adams where he worked for 3 years. Currently, Brian is serving on Hartland High School’s administrative team as the Athletic Director, a role that he has been in since the summer of 2023.