Principal appointments 2023

[Anonymous]

Montgomery Knolls ES principal granted a sabbatical for 23-24 school year. AP will be interim principal.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Magruder principal retiring this year. It’s about time.

How do you know this?

Yeah. I am a Magruder teacher have not heard this. I would not be surprised though. I think he is one of the longest serving principals in MCPS based on his salary.

I have felt that the last few years have felt like transition years. The admin needs a shake-up for several reasons, but staff also don’t want to be micromanaged by a new principal looking to make change just for appearances.

He just announced this week. I don't know anything about the appointment process -- will one of the APs step up as acting for a year?

Wow, that is a really late announcement. Is his retirement effective June 30th? If so I think they will have an AP start as acting principal July 1, but there is still enough time for them to hire a permanent principal before the fall.

[Anonymous]

The Rock Creek Forest ES principal announced her retirement last week. There will be an interim for the school year, who is an AP at Blair HS, and a full search next spring.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I have always thought interns/ acting principals had a really good shot at getting the school they were appointed acting for. Assuming they wanted the job. Is that typical for mcps?

We had several principal interns at Rosemary Hills and didn't have any of them actually get the job once the principal left. I think it's just a training opportunity, not indicative of whether they will get a job as principal and, if they do, what school they will be assigned to.

Yeah interns don’t get hired at the school they internship at …. However if an intern turns Acting Principal there is a good chance they could get the job I bet (the Goshen elementary example from earlier in this thread)

I don't think Gupta is the acting for the rest of the year; he's the principal intern right now in the part of the year that the principal intern serves as acting principal for 2 months. After that, the other principal will be back.

Check earlier posts in this thread. The other principal is not coming back. She took another job

The Goshen principal's new job as principal of Clarksburg #9 is effective 1/30, so I would expect an announcement any day now of who the acting principal will be at Goshen, and barring any issues during the internship, it's highly likely to be the current principal intern.

Isn't it strange to be starting mid-year?

Did Gupta get the Goshen job permanently?

Nichola Wallen was appointed in March:

Ouch - that must be a slap in the face for him. Is he staying on as AP, or moving elsewhere, I wonder?

He’ll be appointed to another open ES principal position. It’s May 1st and the retirement deadline is here, so more spots will open.

Also - there’s a board meeting this week (Wednesday, I believe), so I’m looking forward to more appointments.

More likely he will go back to AP somewhere for a year. Acting principals tends to be appointed as acting because they haven't met all the eligibility requirements yet but the position needs to be filled. Usually they get the permanent job but it's not a given and not at all uncommon for them to just not be ready yet. They go back to their last successful position to try again.

Was Gupta well-liked? He is going to be the AP at Viers Mill next year.

Welp, nevermind that. He was able to get a position "closer to home" and is going to Germantown ES. That seems... strange.

To be principal or AP? Principal would make sense - but seems unprofessional to accept an AP spot and then switch to another school for an AP position.

I don't know that it is unprofessional, TBH. I don't know this person, and I have no opinion on him, but the opportunity to shave two hours off your commute is pretty compelling. It's also only June - there's time to recruit someone else.

AP and yeah, it's unprofessional. Doesn't matter if there's time to get someone else (and they have), it's just not a good look to accept a position that you applied for and then say "oh wait, this one's available?" I'm really surprised they let him do it.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have always thought interns/ acting principals had a really good shot at getting the school they were appointed acting for. Assuming they wanted the job. Is that typical for mcps?

We had several principal interns at Rosemary Hills and didn't have any of them actually get the job once the principal left. I think it's just a training opportunity, not indicative of whether they will get a job as principal and, if they do, what school they will be assigned to.

Yeah interns don’t get hired at the school they internship at …. However if an intern turns Acting Principal there is a good chance they could get the job I bet (the Goshen elementary example from earlier in this thread)

I don't think Gupta is the acting for the rest of the year; he's the principal intern right now in the part of the year that the principal intern serves as acting principal for 2 months. After that, the other principal will be back.

Check earlier posts in this thread. The other principal is not coming back. She took another job

The Goshen principal's new job as principal of Clarksburg #9 is effective 1/30, so I would expect an announcement any day now of who the acting principal will be at Goshen, and barring any issues during the internship, it's highly likely to be the current principal intern.

Isn't it strange to be starting mid-year?

Did Gupta get the Goshen job permanently?

Nichola Wallen was appointed in March:

Ouch - that must be a slap in the face for him. Is he staying on as AP, or moving elsewhere, I wonder?

He’ll be appointed to another open ES principal position. It’s May 1st and the retirement deadline is here, so more spots will open.

Also - there’s a board meeting this week (Wednesday, I believe), so I’m looking forward to more appointments.

More likely he will go back to AP somewhere for a year. Acting principals tends to be appointed as acting because they haven't met all the eligibility requirements yet but the position needs to be filled. Usually they get the permanent job but it's not a given and not at all uncommon for them to just not be ready yet. They go back to their last successful position to try again.

Was Gupta well-liked? He is going to be the AP at Viers Mill next year.

Welp, nevermind that. He was able to get a position "closer to home" and is going to Germantown ES. That seems... strange.

To be principal or AP? Principal would make sense - but seems unprofessional to accept an AP spot and then switch to another school for an AP position.

I don't know that it is unprofessional, TBH. I don't know this person, and I have no opinion on him, but the opportunity to shave two hours off your commute is pretty compelling. It's also only June - there's time to recruit someone else.

AP and yeah, it's unprofessional. Doesn't matter if there's time to get someone else (and they have), it's just not a good look to accept a position that you applied for and then say "oh wait, this one's available?" I'm really surprised they let him do it.

I can understand the temptation to flake when a better opportunity comes along, but not a good look.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have always thought interns/ acting principals had a really good shot at getting the school they were appointed acting for. Assuming they wanted the job. Is that typical for mcps?

We had several principal interns at Rosemary Hills and didn't have any of them actually get the job once the principal left. I think it's just a training opportunity, not indicative of whether they will get a job as principal and, if they do, what school they will be assigned to.

Yeah interns don’t get hired at the school they internship at …. However if an intern turns Acting Principal there is a good chance they could get the job I bet (the Goshen elementary example from earlier in this thread)

I don't think Gupta is the acting for the rest of the year; he's the principal intern right now in the part of the year that the principal intern serves as acting principal for 2 months. After that, the other principal will be back.

Check earlier posts in this thread. The other principal is not coming back. She took another job

The Goshen principal's new job as principal of Clarksburg #9 is effective 1/30, so I would expect an announcement any day now of who the acting principal will be at Goshen, and barring any issues during the internship, it's highly likely to be the current principal intern.

Isn't it strange to be starting mid-year?

Did Gupta get the Goshen job permanently?

Nichola Wallen was appointed in March:

Ouch - that must be a slap in the face for him. Is he staying on as AP, or moving elsewhere, I wonder?

He’ll be appointed to another open ES principal position. It’s May 1st and the retirement deadline is here, so more spots will open.

Also - there’s a board meeting this week (Wednesday, I believe), so I’m looking forward to more appointments.

More likely he will go back to AP somewhere for a year. Acting principals tends to be appointed as acting because they haven't met all the eligibility requirements yet but the position needs to be filled. Usually they get the permanent job but it's not a given and not at all uncommon for them to just not be ready yet. They go back to their last successful position to try again.

Was Gupta well-liked? He is going to be the AP at Viers Mill next year.

Welp, nevermind that. He was able to get a position "closer to home" and is going to Germantown ES. That seems... strange.

To be principal or AP? Principal would make sense - but seems unprofessional to accept an AP spot and then switch to another school for an AP position.

I don't know that it is unprofessional, TBH. I don't know this person, and I have no opinion on him, but the opportunity to shave two hours off your commute is pretty compelling. It's also only June - there's time to recruit someone else.

AP and yeah, it's unprofessional. Doesn't matter if there's time to get someone else (and they have), it's just not a good look to accept a position that you applied for and then say "oh wait, this one's available?" I'm really surprised they let him do it.

I can understand the temptation to flake when a better opportunity comes along, but not a good look.

This is how the real world works. It shouldn't be any different in education. Le sigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have always thought interns/ acting principals had a really good shot at getting the school they were appointed acting for. Assuming they wanted the job. Is that typical for mcps?

We had several principal interns at Rosemary Hills and didn't have any of them actually get the job once the principal left. I think it's just a training opportunity, not indicative of whether they will get a job as principal and, if they do, what school they will be assigned to.

Yeah interns don’t get hired at the school they internship at …. However if an intern turns Acting Principal there is a good chance they could get the job I bet (the Goshen elementary example from earlier in this thread)

I don't think Gupta is the acting for the rest of the year; he's the principal intern right now in the part of the year that the principal intern serves as acting principal for 2 months. After that, the other principal will be back.

Check earlier posts in this thread. The other principal is not coming back. She took another job

The Goshen principal's new job as principal of Clarksburg #9 is effective 1/30, so I would expect an announcement any day now of who the acting principal will be at Goshen, and barring any issues during the internship, it's highly likely to be the current principal intern.

Isn't it strange to be starting mid-year?

Did Gupta get the Goshen job permanently?

Nichola Wallen was appointed in March:

Ouch - that must be a slap in the face for him. Is he staying on as AP, or moving elsewhere, I wonder?

He’ll be appointed to another open ES principal position. It’s May 1st and the retirement deadline is here, so more spots will open.

Also - there’s a board meeting this week (Wednesday, I believe), so I’m looking forward to more appointments.

More likely he will go back to AP somewhere for a year. Acting principals tends to be appointed as acting because they haven't met all the eligibility requirements yet but the position needs to be filled. Usually they get the permanent job but it's not a given and not at all uncommon for them to just not be ready yet. They go back to their last successful position to try again.

Was Gupta well-liked? He is going to be the AP at Viers Mill next year.

Welp, nevermind that. He was able to get a position "closer to home" and is going to Germantown ES. That seems... strange.

To be principal or AP? Principal would make sense - but seems unprofessional to accept an AP spot and then switch to another school for an AP position.

I don't know that it is unprofessional, TBH. I don't know this person, and I have no opinion on him, but the opportunity to shave two hours off your commute is pretty compelling. It's also only June - there's time to recruit someone else.

AP and yeah, it's unprofessional. Doesn't matter if there's time to get someone else (and they have), it's just not a good look to accept a position that you applied for and then say "oh wait, this one's available?" I'm really surprised they let him do it.

I can understand the temptation to flake when a better opportunity comes along, but not a good look.

This is how the real world works. It shouldn't be any different in education. Le sigh.

Except it would mean getting to lead one department or one branch in a company and then flaking a few days later for a different department/branch, within the same company. Sure, you could do it, but you're burning some bridges that you might need to cross later on, especially with the movement among staff in the school system, and the reliance on other staff for references. I mean, I've been on interview panels for principals and if I were on his, knowing this would definitely influence whether or not I'd vote to move forward for him. It really shows some poor judgment--he should not have interviewed for a position in an unfavorable location, and then had the sense to know that once he got the job, it's a limited time deal (especially since he was Acting before). If he's successful, it's likely he'll be an AP for only a year before moving on to a principal position. Someone committed to the job could suck it up and deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have always thought interns/ acting principals had a really good shot at getting the school they were appointed acting for. Assuming they wanted the job. Is that typical for mcps?

We had several principal interns at Rosemary Hills and didn't have any of them actually get the job once the principal left. I think it's just a training opportunity, not indicative of whether they will get a job as principal and, if they do, what school they will be assigned to.

Yeah interns don’t get hired at the school they internship at …. However if an intern turns Acting Principal there is a good chance they could get the job I bet (the Goshen elementary example from earlier in this thread)

I don't think Gupta is the acting for the rest of the year; he's the principal intern right now in the part of the year that the principal intern serves as acting principal for 2 months. After that, the other principal will be back.

Check earlier posts in this thread. The other principal is not coming back. She took another job

The Goshen principal's new job as principal of Clarksburg #9 is effective 1/30, so I would expect an announcement any day now of who the acting principal will be at Goshen, and barring any issues during the internship, it's highly likely to be the current principal intern.

Isn't it strange to be starting mid-year?

Did Gupta get the Goshen job permanently?

Nichola Wallen was appointed in March:

Ouch - that must be a slap in the face for him. Is he staying on as AP, or moving elsewhere, I wonder?

He’ll be appointed to another open ES principal position. It’s May 1st and the retirement deadline is here, so more spots will open.

Also - there’s a board meeting this week (Wednesday, I believe), so I’m looking forward to more appointments.

More likely he will go back to AP somewhere for a year. Acting principals tends to be appointed as acting because they haven't met all the eligibility requirements yet but the position needs to be filled. Usually they get the permanent job but it's not a given and not at all uncommon for them to just not be ready yet. They go back to their last successful position to try again.

Was Gupta well-liked? He is going to be the AP at Viers Mill next year.

Welp, nevermind that. He was able to get a position "closer to home" and is going to Germantown ES. That seems... strange.

To be principal or AP? Principal would make sense - but seems unprofessional to accept an AP spot and then switch to another school for an AP position.

I don't know that it is unprofessional, TBH. I don't know this person, and I have no opinion on him, but the opportunity to shave two hours off your commute is pretty compelling. It's also only June - there's time to recruit someone else.

AP and yeah, it's unprofessional. Doesn't matter if there's time to get someone else (and they have), it's just not a good look to accept a position that you applied for and then say "oh wait, this one's available?" I'm really surprised they let him do it.

I can understand the temptation to flake when a better opportunity comes along, but not a good look.

This is how the real world works. It shouldn't be any different in education. Le sigh.

Except it would mean getting to lead one department or one branch in a company and then flaking a few days later for a different department/branch, within the same company. Sure, you could do it, but you're burning some bridges that you might need to cross later on, especially with the movement among staff in the school system, and the reliance on other staff for references. I mean, I've been on interview panels for principals and if I were on his, knowing this would definitely influence whether or not I'd vote to move forward for him. It really shows some poor judgment--he should not have interviewed for a position in an unfavorable location, and then had the sense to know that once he got the job, it's a limited time deal (especially since he was Acting before). If he's successful, it's likely he'll be an AP for only a year before moving on to a principal position. Someone committed to the job could suck it up and deal.

Principals should be required to put it notice by a certain date. You cannot fault someone for applying for an open position and then wanting to take something closer to home that opened up later. Especially in a county as big as ours. Least unprofessional move a person could make.

[Anonymous]

I’ve heard rumors there will be some principals quietly moved out of their schools into CO positions on July 1. Because said principals are too bad to transfer to other schools and MCPS won’t actually fire them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Magruder principal retiring this year. It’s about time.

How do you know this?

Yeah. I am a Magruder teacher have not heard this. I would not be surprised though. I think he is one of the longest serving principals in MCPS based on his salary.

I have felt that the last few years have felt like transition years. The admin needs a shake-up for several reasons, but staff also don’t want to be micromanaged by a new principal looking to make change just for appearances.

He just announced this week. I don't know anything about the appointment process -- will one of the APs step up as acting for a year?

Yes, probably Sofia Vega-Ormeno (even though she’s about to be a Principal Intern) or John Haas. I don’t think they’ll get someone by 7/1, they’re going to have an interim principal the entire year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Magruder principal retiring this year. It’s about time.

How do you know this?

Yeah. I am a Magruder teacher have not heard this. I would not be surprised though. I think he is one of the longest serving principals in MCPS based on his salary.

I have felt that the last few years have felt like transition years. The admin needs a shake-up for several reasons, but staff also don’t want to be micromanaged by a new principal looking to make change just for appearances.

He just announced this week. I don't know anything about the appointment process -- will one of the APs step up as acting for a year?

Yes, probably Sofia Vega-Ormeno (even though she’s about to be a Principal Intern) or John Haas. I don’t think they’ll get someone by 7/1, they’re going to have an interim principal the entire year.

John Haas used to be the principal of SSIMS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Magruder principal retiring this year. It’s about time.

How do you know this?

Yeah. I am a Magruder teacher have not heard this. I would not be surprised though. I think he is one of the longest serving principals in MCPS based on his salary.

I have felt that the last few years have felt like transition years. The admin needs a shake-up for several reasons, but staff also don’t want to be micromanaged by a new principal looking to make change just for appearances.

He just announced this week. I don't know anything about the appointment process -- will one of the APs step up as acting for a year?

Yes, probably Sofia Vega-Ormeno (even though she’s about to be a Principal Intern) or John Haas. I don’t think they’ll get someone by 7/1, they’re going to have an interim principal the entire year.

John Haas used to be the principal of SSIMS.

Ah, yes, forgot what school he led. One of those two will be interim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Rock Creek Forest ES principal announced her retirement last week. There will be an interim for the school year, who is an AP at Blair HS, and a full search next spring.

So that means both the principal and the AP will be new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Magruder principal retiring this year. It’s about time.

How do you know this?

Yeah. I am a Magruder teacher have not heard this. I would not be surprised though. I think he is one of the longest serving principals in MCPS based on his salary.

I have felt that the last few years have felt like transition years. The admin needs a shake-up for several reasons, but staff also don’t want to be micromanaged by a new principal looking to make change just for appearances.

He just announced this week. I don't know anything about the appointment process -- will one of the APs step up as acting for a year?

Yes, probably Sofia Vega-Ormeno (even though she’s about to be a Principal Intern) or John Haas. I don’t think they’ll get someone by 7/1, they’re going to have an interim principal the entire year.

John Haas used to be the principal of SSIMS.

Ah, yes, forgot what school he led. One of those two will be interim.

Why would a former principal need to be an intern?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve heard rumors there will be some principals quietly moved out of their schools into CO positions on July 1. Because said principals are too bad to transfer to other schools and MCPS won’t actually fire them.

I find this one hard to believe. This seems to be said about my former principal a lot. And then nothing happens.