Principal

Kathy Cook

Kathy Cook, a Texas City native, is Belton High’s head principal. Cook is no stranger to the education business. For the past twenty years, she has been doing what has always been her dream, but it has not always been like that.

“I had always wanted to be a teacher,” Cook remembered. However, she was a manager at Albertson’s up until her three children were no longer in school. At last, she finally fulfilled her own dreams.

            Although she had received her undergraduate degree from Stephen F. Austin, she chose University of Texas at Dallas for her education degree. At that point, she had her math, English, reading, and teaching certificate, but it still was not enough for this overachiever.

            “I went to the Sorbonne in Paris, France. I lived there for a year and got my French language and cultural degree,” said Cook.

            And even after that, school still was not over for her. She attended Texas Womens University for her masters’ in school administration.

            Afterwards, she found a job as a middle school math teacher before becoming an advanced math teacher at a high school.

            She was originally hired by Belton Independent School District as the Lake Belton Middle School head principal, but is now very happy to be at Belton’s high school because she has “always felt [she] needed to be back at high school.”

            “I really want the students to want their education as badly as I want them to have it,” said Cook, regarding her education philosophy. “I want the kids to want to be successful, because if they want to be successful, they can do anything. We will teach them anything they want.”

            As head principal, Cook attends as many school functions as she can. In her free time, which there is not much of, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren.  

Associate Principals

Natalie Farber, Senior Principal

Born Natalie Williams in 1965 in Cuero, Texas, Natalie Farber knew from a young age she wanted to work in the educational field. Her love of children and a boring seventh grade history class pushed her to become a teacher. Farber attended Southwest Texas University, where she received her undergraduate degree, and Tarleton State University, where she acquired her Master’s degree. She taught history and world geography for eleven years, and has held an administrative position for six. Although her two children occupy most of her time outside school, Farber enjoys reading and making beaded crafts. She lives by the motto, “Don’t dwell on past happenings, look forward to the future, and live everyday to the fullest.”

Robert Atmar

Robert Atmar was born in Ft. Stockton, TX, on December 30, 1957. Seven years later he found himself in Belton, TX.

Atmar received his Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from UT Austin. Shortly after returning to Belton he began substitute teaching.

 "At first it was just another job," Atmar said. "As time went on, however, my attitude towards teaching changed. The job became very appealing to me."

Atmar did not waste any time. He went to Baylor and received his Masters in History and then went to UMHB to receive his Masters in Education.

With two new masters under his belt, Atmar began his 24 year journey in education. He started out as an eighth grade history teacher.

"I really enjoyed it, but I knew that I wasn't going to stop there," he said.

It is now 24 years later and Robert Atmar is a Belton High School
assistant principal.  He is happily married to Sandra Atmar and has two children. His son, Walt, is a graduate of BHS and his daughter, Katherine, is a junior.