Focus

Dr. Edward Spurka’s distinguished journey in education began with an unexpected detour from his path to law school. What started as a temporary position working with adjudicated youth at The Glen Mills Schools in Pennsylvania ignited a lifelong passion for transforming students’ lives, leading him to pursue multiple degrees in education—starting with Special Education from West Chester University in 1992, followed by master’s, specialist, and doctorate degrees from the University of Georgia.

Over three decades, Dr. Spurka ascended through every level of education, from counselor and teacher to assistant principal, high school principal and Head of School. His exceptional leadership garnered four Governor’s High-Performance Principal awards and two Outstanding Principal of the Year honors from the Georgia PTA. When selected to establish Cambridge High School from the ground up, he demonstrated his ability to build not just institutions but thriving educational communities.

Experience

Shaped by his mentors, Principal Ron Tesch, Dr. Spurka and Superintendent Robert Avossa, developed a leadership philosophy centered on creating environments where teachers could flourish and students excel. This approach consistently yielded high teacher retention rates and exceptional staff morale across both public and private institutions. “I prided myself in creating school environments where teachers felt valued and supported because they had the biggest impact on my students,” he reflects. This unwavering dedication to holistic education and teacher empowerment has cemented his legacy as a transformative figure in education. Throughout his career, Dr. Spurka invested in hundreds of teachers and poured into the thousands of students who have his name on their diploma.

Education and Certifications

Dr. Spurka’s professional career was transformed when he was provided the opportunity to take the Highlands Ability Battery. The HAB helped him reclaim his purpose in life and fully understand and appreciate his natural abilities and strengths. The HAB led Dr. Spurka to publish two books, The 15 ‘Principals’ of Parenting (2021) and The Joyful Educator (2025) and become a Highlands consultant. The Highlands has supported Dr. Spurka’s servant heart and he has provided the HAB and coaching to several educators and leadership teams and even his own daughter. Dr. Spurka benefitted from the Highlands Whole Person Model and he believes it can be a game changer for teachers, leaders, and parents and their students.