Principal
Phone: 512.465.6202
Email Steve Novickas

Hello, Rooster Springs Families,

My name is Steve Novickas, and I am the proud principal of Rooster Springs Elementary! I welcome you to our neighborhood school in Dripping Springs ISD. Together, the students, parents, staff, and community members strive to live out our mission every day to “encourage positive relationships and foster a safe environment to ignite the desire to learn.” 

Before my time at Rooster Springs Elementary School, I was an assistant principal at Sycamore Springs Middle School. Before then, I lived in Colorado where I started my teaching and administration career. 

My wife, Katie, and I have three children: Boston, Brielle, and Berklee. We are very involved in the Dripping Springs community through church and extra-curricular sports. Oftentimes, you can find me coaching one of our kid’s teams on the weekends! Originally, I am a native of the Chicagoland area. I enjoy being active in my spare time, spending quality time with family, and rooting for most Chicago sports teams! 

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have throughout the school year. I enjoy engaging in conversations and getting to know the families that we serve. I look forward to “RiSE Together” as one learning community!

Respectfully,

Steve Novickas
RSES Principal

Assistant Principal
Phone: 512.465.6217
Email Melissa Oliver

Rooster Springs Family,

I am truly grateful for the opportunity to grow with your beautiful community as the Assistant Principal of Rooster Springs Elementary. My educational experience began in Austin ISD where I proudly served as a 5th-grade classroom teacher and a campus-wide math interventionist for students in PreK to 5th from 2015-2020. For the last three years, I have served as one of the curriculum writers for the district as well as the Instructional Coach for the campus. Working in these positions has awakened my passion to support teaching and learning by working collaboratively with teachers and families. Together we were able to implement research-based practices that focus on both student academics and their social and emotional learning.

Getting to connect with people every day is something I truly enjoy. I am passionate about supporting students along their journey to becoming life-long learners. I am also passionate about supporting teachers in their process of delivering high-quality instruction that is accessible to all learners. I believe, as educators, it is our job to help limit barriers to student achievement. I cherish opportunities that allow me to be a part of someone’s growth and development.

Outside of school, I love spending time with my family, running races, and recently I have taken up gardening. I also enjoy reading, cooking, and being outside in the Texas sun. I have three wonderful children from ages 9 to 14 and an incredibly supportive husband. We enjoy staying active; participating in after-school clubs, academics, and fun outdoor adventures!

I look forward to working with the staff, students, and families of Rooster Springs. I am eager to get started on maximizing the potential of each and every single one of our students!

See you all soon, 

Melissa Oliver
RSES Assistant Principal