What has happened to McLean School of Maryland?

[Anonymous]

Could someone who has actual knowledge of the place please tell me what is going on at the McLean School of Maryland? It is so small in the lower school, a new head of school, another new head of middle school, a new head of admissions. What happened?

[Anonymous]

I have had a DS there for years. Nothing is going on and I'm not sure why you are so agitated. The current head of the school is retiring after being there for many years. She is not moving on to another school, she ended her career at Mclean. Hence they've hired a new head. This is not another new head of the middle school. The current head of the middle school has always been acting and it was always known that she would be a placeholder. Finally, there is a new head of admissions because the old one was promoted and became head of the lower school. In other words, in all of this the only person actually leaving the school is the head, who is retiring. Nothing to see here.

As for the smallness of the lower school, the whole school is small. I think that is the biggest problem with the place and i wish it would grow. But my DS has received enormous attention there and has thrived.

Now the McLean basher will come on and wrote about dropping enrollment and such. There was a drop in enrollment during the recession that is turning around and hopefully the new head will increase it further. I think the future for the school looks great.

[Anonymous]

Not the basher, but a supporter/interested future parent ... can you please tell me whether the middle school acting head has been replaced yet and by whom?

Also, I believe that the admissions director is actually leaving to be the head of school at another school - it was the assistsant director who became head of lower school ... maybe I'm wrong, but that was some information I got when we went to look at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not the basher, but a supporter/interested future parent ... can you please tell me whether the middle school acting head has been replaced yet and by whom?

Also, I believe that the admissions director is actually leaving to be the head of school at another school - it was the assistsant director who became head of lower school ... maybe I'm wrong, but that was some information I got when we went to look at the school.

I just checked the McLean website and they haven't posted the middle school head yet. I have no idea why but I feel like I shouldn't post the info on the website if they haven't. All i can say is that I'm very happy with the decision.

The only admissions person I am aware of who has left recently has been the one who was promoted to head of the lower school.

I have seen less turnover at Mclean than at the school my other child attends. Most of the teachers have been there for a number of years.

[Anonymous]

Another happy Mclean parent, here. My DS has been in the school for three years and we are happy with his education. I am very excited about the new lower school head's special education background. I think this is a needed improvement, but love the current head of lower school. They have the ideal special education environment and could achieve even more with the right leadership.
Regarding the enrollment, it does seem down in the lower school. I'm not sure why. I truly hope they can reach out to parents who would benefit from Mclean and entice them to join us. I just wish they had financial aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another happy Mclean parent, here. My DS has been in the school for three years and we are happy with his education. I am very excited about the new lower school head's special education background. I think this is a needed improvement, but love the current head of lower school. They have the ideal special education environment and could achieve even more with the right leadership.
Regarding the enrollment, it does seem down in the lower school. I'm not sure why. I truly hope they can reach out to parents who would benefit from Mclean and entice them to join us. I just wish they had financial aid.

Not a basher. DC was accepted there but we went to Maddux first. Do you know where the head of lower school is going, as he's only been in that role briefly? Also where is the head of admin going to head? TIA

[Anonymous]

Is the Lower School head, who just got that position three years ago, leaving?

[Anonymous]

Not leaving the school taking a different position within the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not leaving the school taking a different position within the school.

What position is he taking? Does anyone know where head of admissions is going? Or, is it a secret?

[Anonymous]

OK, this is the story:

Head of Admissions leaving to become Head of another school
A new job has been created in the administration above the Head of admissions. The head of the lower school is taking this position.
There will be a new head of admissions who will work for him.
There will be a new head of the lower school who sounds great.

The only person who is leaving is the current head of admissions and that is because she is becoming the head of a school.

[Anonymous]

And the head of school. Which is a wonderful thing, don't get me wrong. There is lots of positive feeling about the new incoming head of school. The overwhelming feeling among many for a long time was that the outgoing head had stayed way too long. And there will be a new head of middle school too. But in this context all this change is definitely a very good thing.

[Anonymous]

The former head of the school created the upper school (which has a great rep) and did an amazing amount for the school, but I agree that new blood will be great.

[Anonymous]

What school is Judy going to?

[Anonymous]

Judy is going to be the head of Chesapeake Bay Academy in VA

http://www.cba-va.org/