Principal appointments

[Anonymous]

Has anyone interacted with Angie Fish? We are at FVES and I don’t know anything about her. Fingers crossed she’s good!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bernstein, Mascott, and Zolkower are the current principals at Forest Knolls, Harmony Hills, and Highland View, respectively, so that means there are now three more vacancies.

Nothing on Wootton or Springbrook? Guess they’re getting acting principals.

Not necessarily. Last summer, there was another round of principal appointments announced on July 15th.

[Anonymous]

I worked with Ron Morris in Howard County. Jones Lane is getting a truly amazing principal! They are very lucky to have him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have any ideas about who will get Wootton?

Either Sam Levine (was an AP at B-CC and a Principal Intern at Kennedy this past year) or Vilma Najera (longtime AP at Springbrook who then became a Principal Intern as well at Quince Orchard HS this past year). Perhaps Joey Jones because Frost students matriculate to Wootton - this is the most likely as he's fantastic and has been tagged for higher things in the district for a long time. Has to be one of these three.

Don't you think Wootton's own principal intern this past year, Rohner, would be on the list? Springbrook has a principal opening as well, so Najera may be up for that.

Good question. Springbrook's principal is on leave, he's returning. Rohner has most of his experience in middle schools and would be a good choice, but in these situations they try to either get the principal from the middle school in the community (Renay Johnson from TPMS -> Blair, Mildred Charley-Greene from TPMS -> Northwood, Alicia Deeny from TPMS -> RM, John Taylor from CJMS -> Churchill) or a principal who's worked with similar communities in the past (Levine). That's why Dr. Jones is very much the clear front-runner. He has worked with high schools in the past but just moved down to the MS level. He's had his fair share of entreaties for HS and is just waiting for the right move. If they want Rohner in there, it has to be as an interim because I feel as though he needs more seasoning.

Then why was the Springbrook principal position listed on MCPS Careers earlier this month?

I never got the impression that Dr. Joey Jones wanted high school. I think he’s pretty happy with middle and having fewer evening/athletic commitments, but that could have changed. Vilma Najera seems to have a positive energy. Kudos to Beth Thomas for choosing and cultivating great APs and principal interns. I also wonder if there are any central people whose jobs have been reorganized and who now need new positions. Often they get first dibs on HS openings, in part because they were promoted to central in the first place because they were strong principals (with some exceptions, of course).

I am wondering about that too. I don't understand exactly what the new org chart means for the existing directors or associate superintendents. One associate superintendent (Dyson) has left for Frederick County. But they recently named two current directors (Moran and Floyd-Cooper) to two of the three associate superintendent of school support and well-being positions, and Monteleone was named associate superintendent of well-being, learning and achievement. So where does that leave Koutsos and Morris? They also appointed one new director, from outside of MCPS.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/publicinfo/FY_2023_MCPS_StrategicOrgLeadershipStructure_OrgChart.pdf

Koutsos is retiring and Jimmy D’Andrea left for Brian Scriven’s district in Pennsylvania. Not sure about Morris. I suspect more will leave with Dyson, so they may not have additional folks to place. I wonder if they initially thought D’Andrea would go to Wootton. The job he had, I know, wasn’t the right fit for him, but he was a good principal. Glad he will be doing that again in Pa. I know of a couple middle school principals who would love that promotion to HS, but they’ve been passed over before and likely would be passed over again in favor of one of the more dynamic, up and comers like Najera.

Diane Morris was named as the third associate superintendent of school support and well-being today.

How is that different from what she did before?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have any ideas about who will get Wootton?

Either Sam Levine (was an AP at B-CC and a Principal Intern at Kennedy this past year) or Vilma Najera (longtime AP at Springbrook who then became a Principal Intern as well at Quince Orchard HS this past year). Perhaps Joey Jones because Frost students matriculate to Wootton - this is the most likely as he's fantastic and has been tagged for higher things in the district for a long time. Has to be one of these three.

Don't you think Wootton's own principal intern this past year, Rohner, would be on the list? Springbrook has a principal opening as well, so Najera may be up for that.

Good question. Springbrook's principal is on leave, he's returning. Rohner has most of his experience in middle schools and would be a good choice, but in these situations they try to either get the principal from the middle school in the community (Renay Johnson from TPMS -> Blair, Mildred Charley-Greene from TPMS -> Northwood, Alicia Deeny from TPMS -> RM, John Taylor from CJMS -> Churchill) or a principal who's worked with similar communities in the past (Levine). That's why Dr. Jones is very much the clear front-runner. He has worked with high schools in the past but just moved down to the MS level. He's had his fair share of entreaties for HS and is just waiting for the right move. If they want Rohner in there, it has to be as an interim because I feel as though he needs more seasoning.

Then why was the Springbrook principal position listed on MCPS Careers earlier this month?

I never got the impression that Dr. Joey Jones wanted high school. I think he’s pretty happy with middle and having fewer evening/athletic commitments, but that could have changed. Vilma Najera seems to have a positive energy. Kudos to Beth Thomas for choosing and cultivating great APs and principal interns. I also wonder if there are any central people whose jobs have been reorganized and who now need new positions. Often they get first dibs on HS openings, in part because they were promoted to central in the first place because they were strong principals (with some exceptions, of course).

I am wondering about that too. I don't understand exactly what the new org chart means for the existing directors or associate superintendents. One associate superintendent (Dyson) has left for Frederick County. But they recently named two current directors (Moran and Floyd-Cooper) to two of the three associate superintendent of school support and well-being positions, and Monteleone was named associate superintendent of well-being, learning and achievement. So where does that leave Koutsos and Morris? They also appointed one new director, from outside of MCPS.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/publicinfo/FY_2023_MCPS_StrategicOrgLeadershipStructure_OrgChart.pdf

Koutsos is retiring and Jimmy D’Andrea left for Brian Scriven’s district in Pennsylvania. Not sure about Morris. I suspect more will leave with Dyson, so they may not have additional folks to place. I wonder if they initially thought D’Andrea would go to Wootton. The job he had, I know, wasn’t the right fit for him, but he was a good principal. Glad he will be doing that again in Pa. I know of a couple middle school principals who would love that promotion to HS, but they’ve been passed over before and likely would be passed over again in favor of one of the more dynamic, up and comers like Najera.

Diane Morris was named as the third associate superintendent of school support and well-being today.

How is that different from what she did before?

It's the comparable position on the new org chart, supervising the directors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have any ideas about who will get Wootton?

Either Sam Levine (was an AP at B-CC and a Principal Intern at Kennedy this past year) or Vilma Najera (longtime AP at Springbrook who then became a Principal Intern as well at Quince Orchard HS this past year). Perhaps Joey Jones because Frost students matriculate to Wootton - this is the most likely as he's fantastic and has been tagged for higher things in the district for a long time. Has to be one of these three.

Don't you think Wootton's own principal intern this past year, Rohner, would be on the list? Springbrook has a principal opening as well, so Najera may be up for that.

Good question. Springbrook's principal is on leave, he's returning. Rohner has most of his experience in middle schools and would be a good choice, but in these situations they try to either get the principal from the middle school in the community (Renay Johnson from TPMS -> Blair, Mildred Charley-Greene from TPMS -> Northwood, Alicia Deeny from TPMS -> RM, John Taylor from CJMS -> Churchill) or a principal who's worked with similar communities in the past (Levine). That's why Dr. Jones is very much the clear front-runner. He has worked with high schools in the past but just moved down to the MS level. He's had his fair share of entreaties for HS and is just waiting for the right move. If they want Rohner in there, it has to be as an interim because I feel as though he needs more seasoning.

Then why was the Springbrook principal position listed on MCPS Careers earlier this month?

I never got the impression that Dr. Joey Jones wanted high school. I think he’s pretty happy with middle and having fewer evening/athletic commitments, but that could have changed. Vilma Najera seems to have a positive energy. Kudos to Beth Thomas for choosing and cultivating great APs and principal interns. I also wonder if there are any central people whose jobs have been reorganized and who now need new positions. Often they get first dibs on HS openings, in part because they were promoted to central in the first place because they were strong principals (with some exceptions, of course).

I am wondering about that too. I don't understand exactly what the new org chart means for the existing directors or associate superintendents. One associate superintendent (Dyson) has left for Frederick County. But they recently named two current directors (Moran and Floyd-Cooper) to two of the three associate superintendent of school support and well-being positions, and Monteleone was named associate superintendent of well-being, learning and achievement. So where does that leave Koutsos and Morris? They also appointed one new director, from outside of MCPS.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/publicinfo/FY_2023_MCPS_StrategicOrgLeadershipStructure_OrgChart.pdf

Koutsos is retiring and Jimmy D’Andrea left for Brian Scriven’s district in Pennsylvania. Not sure about Morris. I suspect more will leave with Dyson, so they may not have additional folks to place. I wonder if they initially thought D’Andrea would go to Wootton. The job he had, I know, wasn’t the right fit for him, but he was a good principal. Glad he will be doing that again in Pa. I know of a couple middle school principals who would love that promotion to HS, but they’ve been passed over before and likely would be passed over again in favor of one of the more dynamic, up and comers like Najera.

Diane Morris was named as the third associate superintendent of school support and well-being today.

How is that different from what she did before?

It's the comparable position on the new org chart, supervising the directors.

But one difference is that Nichelle Owens, Jeff Sullivan, and Shella Cherry will report to Damon Monteleone in the new org chart, along with the learning and achievement specialists. Morris, Moran, and Floyd-Cooper will only have the directors (and therefore the principals) under them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bernstein, Mascott, and Zolkower are the current principals at Forest Knolls, Harmony Hills, and Highland View, respectively, so that means there are now three more vacancies.

I'm a parent at FKES, Mr. Bernstein is fantastic as principal. Always very responsive and communicative when we have questions.

+1. Little Bennett is lucky to have him.

+1 We are going to miss Mr. Bernstein!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bernstein, Mascott, and Zolkower are the current principals at Forest Knolls, Harmony Hills, and Highland View, respectively, so that means there are now three more vacancies.

Nothing on Wootton or Springbrook? Guess they’re getting acting principals.

Not necessarily. Last summer, there was another round of principal appointments announced on July 15th.

For Wootton, the appointment of the new principal will begin July 15 if I’m not mistaken. The principal intern will be acting/interim principal from July 1-14.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bernstein, Mascott, and Zolkower are the current principals at Forest Knolls, Harmony Hills, and Highland View, respectively, so that means there are now three more vacancies.

Nothing on Wootton or Springbrook? Guess they’re getting acting principals.

Not necessarily. Last summer, there was another round of principal appointments announced on July 15th.

For Wootton, the appointment of the new principal will begin July 15 if I’m not mistaken. The principal intern will be acting/interim principal from July 1-14.

Probably at the next BOE meeting on Tuesday, July 12th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bernstein, Mascott, and Zolkower are the current principals at Forest Knolls, Harmony Hills, and Highland View, respectively, so that means there are now three more vacancies.

Mascott was the assistant principal of Harmony hills, not the principal.

m

Didn’t he sleep with a teacher when he was the principal at Dufief? He should’ve been fired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bernstein, Mascott, and Zolkower are the current principals at Forest Knolls, Harmony Hills, and Highland View, respectively, so that means there are now three more vacancies.

Mascott was the assistant principal of Harmony hills, not the principal.

m

Didn’t he sleep with a teacher when he was the principal at Dufief? He should’ve been fired.

I don't know anything about that situation but usually that behavior gets a principal a promotion to central or a move to lead another school in a community.

[Anonymous]

Any intel on the new Wood Acres principle, Sweta Zaks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bernstein, Mascott, and Zolkower are the current principals at Forest Knolls, Harmony Hills, and Highland View, respectively, so that means there are now three more vacancies.

I'm a parent at FKES, Mr. Bernstein is fantastic as principal. Always very responsive and communicative when we have questions.

+1. Little Bennett is lucky to have him.

+1 We are going to miss Mr. Bernstein!

Back when he started at Forest Knolls, he pointed out how he'd spent his whole MCPS career in downcounty schools. I wonder why he moved to Clarksburg?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bernstein, Mascott, and Zolkower are the current principals at Forest Knolls, Harmony Hills, and Highland View, respectively, so that means there are now three more vacancies.

I'm a parent at FKES, Mr. Bernstein is fantastic as principal. Always very responsive and communicative when we have questions.

+1. Little Bennett is lucky to have him.

+1 We are going to miss Mr. Bernstein!

Back when he started at Forest Knolls, he pointed out how he'd spent his whole MCPS career in downcounty schools. I wonder why he moved to Clarksburg?

He might have been asked to move to bolster a program that needed buoying. Don't know the status of the school he is going to though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bernstein, Mascott, and Zolkower are the current principals at Forest Knolls, Harmony Hills, and Highland View, respectively, so that means there are now three more vacancies.

I'm a parent at FKES, Mr. Bernstein is fantastic as principal. Always very responsive and communicative when we have questions.

+1. Little Bennett is lucky to have him.

+1 We are going to miss Mr. Bernstein!

Back when he started at Forest Knolls, he pointed out how he'd spent his whole MCPS career in downcounty schools. I wonder why he moved to Clarksburg?

He might have been asked to move to bolster a program that needed buoying. Don't know the status of the school he is going to though.

Nope. School he is going to has a great community. The principal there is retiring but had served as principal since the school opened.