New TJ principal announced

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best part is in the email they had to make sure to talk of the former failed principals fake promotion to gatehouse! Lmao "following Dr. Ann Bonitatibus' promotion to a central office position."

Here is a better article calling out how awful the previous tj principal was pushing racial quotas causing TJ to fall form #1 in the nation to 14. More info on the new principal and an endorsement from the Republican nominee fellow classmate https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/fcps-selects-tjhsst-alum-michael-mukai-to-be-new-principal/article_675df76c-cee9-11ef-9b2a-ab958f33eb91.html

Letter from gatehouse:

January 9, 2025

Dear FCPS Community,

I am writing today with exciting news regarding the future leadership of TJHSST.

As you know, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) launched a nationwide search for a new principal earlier this fall
After several weeks of extensive and diligent consideration of numerous highly-qualified candidates, we are delighted to share that we have found an exceptional leader - and TJHSST alum - close to home. Michael Mukai has accepted the position and will begin later this month. Mukai has been the principal of West Springfield High School since 2014, and has held a variety of FCPS school-based positions since 1995 when he began his career as a math and science teacher. He has also coached wrestling and volleyball.

In a full circle moment, Mukai was in the very first class of TJHSST when it converted to a magnet STEM school in 1985. He majored in Chemistry at Virginia Tech and he has a Masters of Curriculum and Instruction, Math Education also from Virginia Tech. He has also completed post-master's graduate work in the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge through the Department of Science Technology and Society of Virginia Tech.

During the recruitment process, Mukai impressed all with his passion for TJHSST, his innovative vision for the future, and his track record of elevating academic excellence.

His many accomplishments at WSHS include:

Significant gains in advanced academic access and success which has resulted in gold recognition by the College Board for the AP School Honor Roll.

Increasing the number of students recognized through the National Merit Scholarship program.

Cappies recognitions for theater arts, honor band recognitions, Virginia Music Educators Association recognitions, district, region, and state championships in Virginia High School League athletics and activities.

Thank you for your continued support of FCPS.

Dr. Geovanny Ponce
Chief of Schools

Go away, Asra, no one wants to read your partisan drivel.

[Anonymous]

We'll see. Hopefully, he will be able to rebuild TJ after the train wreck caused by the radical lefts.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Bonitatibus is getting paid more money and has a lot more responsibility within the same organization for which she was previously employed.

You can use whatever word you want, but in every office in America, that’s a promotion.

[Anonymous]

Realistically, what can he to actually improve TJ that is 100% within his control?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We'll see. Hopefully, he will be able to rebuild TJ after the train wreck caused by the radical lefts.

The FCPS board has not changed.
As bad as Bonitatibus was, she was following the board's lead, not the other way around.
Elections have consequences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Excellent choice. As an alum of TJ’s first graduating class (‘89), he has been local to Northern Virginia and has seen its entire history firsthand. FCPS did very well here in bringing in a person who understands the positives and negatives of TJ’s culture over the last 35 years.

Critically, as a former TJ football player (and I believe wrestler), he fully understands the importance of activities and athletics in the total student experience.

He was on the volleyball team. I think the wrestling came when he adopted one of his students when he was a 25 year old teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former classmate of accomplished VA politician Hung Cao.

Cautiously optimistic about this new TJ principal.

Hopefully he’s not a complete nut job like Cao.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Consider yourself lucky.

He is the best principal in FCPS

Very unfortunate for WSHS.

What silly boosterism. He isn’t the best principal in FCPS, but they obviously see value in appointing a TJ alum when the school’s reputation is suffering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former classmate of accomplished VA politician Hung Cao.

Cautiously optimistic about this new TJ principal.

Cao was not ‘89.

Everyone would do well to remember that TJ’s principal and administration still has absolutely no role in the development or execution of the admissions process or its priorities.

Hrmm, it looks like he was part of the inaugural class at TJ and graduated in 1989 with Mukai.

And Bonitatibus certainly seemed to have a lot to say (including at FCPS board meetings) about the admissions process change.

I don't think he can reverse the changes but he might not be full-throatedly endorsing them either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Realistically, what can he to actually improve TJ that is 100% within his control?

He can shift the focus back to STEM academics and recognizing students' merit-based efforts, rather than DEI and woke stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best part is in the email they had to make sure to talk of the former failed principals fake promotion to gatehouse! Lmao "following Dr. Ann Bonitatibus' promotion to a central office position."

Here is a better article calling out how awful the previous tj principal was pushing racial quotas causing TJ to fall form #1 in the nation to 14. More info on the new principal and an endorsement from the Republican nominee fellow classmate https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/fcps-selects-tjhsst-alum-michael-mukai-to-be-new-principal/article_675df76c-cee9-11ef-9b2a-ab958f33eb91.html

Letter from gatehouse:

January 9, 2025

Dear FCPS Community,

I am writing today with exciting news regarding the future leadership of TJHSST.

As you know, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) launched a nationwide search for a new principal earlier this fall
After several weeks of extensive and diligent consideration of numerous highly-qualified candidates, we are delighted to share that we have found an exceptional leader - and TJHSST alum - close to home. Michael Mukai has accepted the position and will begin later this month. Mukai has been the principal of West Springfield High School since 2014, and has held a variety of FCPS school-based positions since 1995 when he began his career as a math and science teacher. He has also coached wrestling and volleyball.

In a full circle moment, Mukai was in the very first class of TJHSST when it converted to a magnet STEM school in 1985. He majored in Chemistry at Virginia Tech and he has a Masters of Curriculum and Instruction, Math Education also from Virginia Tech. He has also completed post-master's graduate work in the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge through the Department of Science Technology and Society of Virginia Tech.

During the recruitment process, Mukai impressed all with his passion for TJHSST, his innovative vision for the future, and his track record of elevating academic excellence.

His many accomplishments at WSHS include:

Significant gains in advanced academic access and success which has resulted in gold recognition by the College Board for the AP School Honor Roll.

Increasing the number of students recognized through the National Merit Scholarship program.

Cappies recognitions for theater arts, honor band recognitions, Virginia Music Educators Association recognitions, district, region, and state championships in Virginia High School League athletics and activities.

Thank you for your continued support of FCPS.

Dr. Geovanny Ponce
Chief of Schools

Go away, Asra, no one wants to read your partisan drivel.

DP.
Partisan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Realistically, what can he to actually improve TJ that is 100% within his control?

He can shift the focus back to STEM academics and recognizing students' merit-based efforts, rather than DEI and woke stuff.

Be really specific in describing exactly how Bonitatibus focused on “DEI and woke stuff” in matters of educational policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best part is in the email they had to make sure to talk of the former failed principals fake promotion to gatehouse! Lmao "following Dr. Ann Bonitatibus' promotion to a central office position."

Here is a better article calling out how awful the previous tj principal was pushing racial quotas causing TJ to fall form #1 in the nation to 14. More info on the new principal and an endorsement from the Republican nominee fellow classmate https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/fcps-selects-tjhsst-alum-michael-mukai-to-be-new-principal/article_675df76c-cee9-11ef-9b2a-ab958f33eb91.html

Letter from gatehouse:

January 9, 2025

Dear FCPS Community,

I am writing today with exciting news regarding the future leadership of TJHSST.

As you know, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) launched a nationwide search for a new principal earlier this fall
After several weeks of extensive and diligent consideration of numerous highly-qualified candidates, we are delighted to share that we have found an exceptional leader - and TJHSST alum - close to home. Michael Mukai has accepted the position and will begin later this month. Mukai has been the principal of West Springfield High School since 2014, and has held a variety of FCPS school-based positions since 1995 when he began his career as a math and science teacher. He has also coached wrestling and volleyball.

In a full circle moment, Mukai was in the very first class of TJHSST when it converted to a magnet STEM school in 1985. He majored in Chemistry at Virginia Tech and he has a Masters of Curriculum and Instruction, Math Education also from Virginia Tech. He has also completed post-master's graduate work in the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge through the Department of Science Technology and Society of Virginia Tech.

During the recruitment process, Mukai impressed all with his passion for TJHSST, his innovative vision for the future, and his track record of elevating academic excellence.

His many accomplishments at WSHS include:

Significant gains in advanced academic access and success which has resulted in gold recognition by the College Board for the AP School Honor Roll.

Increasing the number of students recognized through the National Merit Scholarship program.

Cappies recognitions for theater arts, honor band recognitions, Virginia Music Educators Association recognitions, district, region, and state championships in Virginia High School League athletics and activities.

Thank you for your continued support of FCPS.

Dr. Geovanny Ponce
Chief of Schools

You are spreading RWNJ misinformation.

There are no quotas.

And TJ went from #5 to #14 out of 25,000 schools on the USNWR rankings. It was only #1 twice in the preceding decade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dr. Bonitatibus is getting paid more money and has a lot more responsibility within the same organization for which she was previously employed.

You can use whatever word you want, but in every office in America, that’s a promotion.

She is herself calling the corner desk job as a promotion to save face. Good riddance – at least no one has to hear her GPS nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Realistically, what can he to actually improve TJ that is 100% within his control?

One thing I would like to see is a focus on actually communicating the great successes that have taken place at TJ over the years - and that will continue to in the future - so as to claim the narrative away from the ghouls who are obsessed with tearing it down.