NCC Assistant Principal (Matt Johnson)

[Anonymous]

Anyone know why NCC brought on an assistant principal this year? And why he left a principal position at Eastern to take on the assistant principal role at NCC?

[Anonymous]

Also interested in any recent feedback about his tenure at Eastern. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I liked him as a principal at Eastern (he was head and shoulders above the previous trainwreck of a principal) but others had different views. Probably a search of Eastern + Johnson should bring up more. Also, no idea what his role switch is about -- I thought he was retiring.

[Anonymous]

I liked him at Eastern.

[Anonymous]

He was great at Eastern. I believe they’re bringing principals out of retirement because there were so many AP vacancies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He was great at Eastern. I believe they’re bringing principals out of retirement because there were so many AP vacancies.

Interesting. I think the AP role is new at this school though so I’m wondering why they added it. The current principal was largely absent last year so I thought maybe the AP would soon replace her but that seems unlikely if Johnson is going to retire soon.

[Anonymous]

I also really liked him at Eastern and also thought he was retiring.

[Anonymous]

I liked him at Eastern. He was there as a teacher, then Magnet Coordinator before leaving. People were delighted when he returned as principal.

He was kind without being a pushover. I felt he was fair to both students and staff, which is a hard balancing act at our school. I especially liked that he never came across as a white savior. He knew when to be a listener as an ally. But he wasn’t just staying silent because he felt awkward or didn’t care. He would speak less so others had a chance to be heard. I think the pandemic was exhausting for a person who is so empathetic.

He wants to retire, but missed the cutoff so he has to wait. He was thoughtful enough to ask to leave Eastern at the end of July so that we could get a new principal in July rather than mid-school year.

The new principal is a putting her stamp on things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I liked him at Eastern. He was there as a teacher, then Magnet Coordinator before leaving. People were delighted when he returned as principal.

He was kind without being a pushover. I felt he was fair to both students and staff, which is a hard balancing act at our school. I especially liked that he never came across as a white savior. He knew when to be a listener as an ally. But he wasn’t just staying silent because he felt awkward or didn’t care. He would speak less so others had a chance to be heard. I think the pandemic was exhausting for a person who is so empathetic.

He wants to retire, but missed the cutoff so he has to wait. He was thoughtful enough to ask to leave Eastern at the end of July so that we could get a new principal in July rather than mid-school year.

The new principal is a putting her stamp on things.

Wait, does that mean he is planning to retire in the middle of this coming school year? That doesn’t seem like such a good deal for NCC. If this is the case, it’s disappointing and frustrating that they’re bringing someone new to the school to wait out the last few months before retiring. NCC needs someone to lead the school, the current principal has checked out.

Anyway, thank you and the PPs for the helpful background.

[Anonymous]

I thought the NCC principal retired last year? Did she decide to stay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought the NCC principal retired last year? Did she decide to stay?

No, you may be thinking of the principal from Rosemary Hills, the K-2 school that feeds into NCC. The Rosemary Hills principal retired at the end of last school year. The NCC principal remains, at least in title.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the NCC principal retired last year? Did she decide to stay?

No, you may be thinking of the principal from Rosemary Hills, the K-2 school that feeds into NCC. The Rosemary Hills principal retired at the end of last school year. The NCC principal remains, at least in title.

Interesting. Another principal in the cluster said that both the RHES and NCC principals had announced their retirement last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the NCC principal retired last year? Did she decide to stay?

No, you may be thinking of the principal from Rosemary Hills, the K-2 school that feeds into NCC. The Rosemary Hills principal retired at the end of last school year. The NCC principal remains, at least in title.

Interesting. Another principal in the cluster said that both the RHES and NCC principals had announced their retirement last year.

Oh that is interesting. The NCC principal did not announce retirement, maybe she was contemplating it? I hope she retires soon so they can place an active principal at the school. And not just temporarily park soon-to-be retiring administrators there.

[Anonymous]

I had a kid at Eastern last year and just went back to look at the email Mr. Johnson sent announcing his retirement. He said, "Given my retirement is effective November 1, 2022, I will be transitioning to support system work on July 1, 2022 so that Eastern begins the school year with a new principal in place."

No idea why "support system work" translates into AP at NCC, but I guess that's where the school system thought he'd be helpful. But he should only be around for two months or so.

[Anonymous]

Eastern MS parent here and a big fan of Mr. Johnson. He ran a good school with a lot of competing interests, and did it in a way that seemed pretty fair to all of the constituencies.

I'd assume NCC has some of the same dynamics, if not as pronounced, so maybe MCPS thought he could be of service.