McLean High getting new principal-how does it work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS will hire anybody. Sometimes i think they flip a coin when they make their decision.

McNair Upper Elementary school has had a principal that’s incompetent since the school opened and I think she had already been with FCPS for a while, so they knew what they were getting.

The interim principal at McLean seems well qualified. There’s also been some turnover in the AP ranks with Dr. Reilly’s departure and the two new APs seem fine (one is a former McLean teacher and the other is coming from Chantilly). Also, another AP will be on maternity leave and the person they found to fill in for her has a lot of experience (former Langley DSA).

Reilly came from Herndon and people at McLean didn’t really know her when she arrived but she ended up doing a very good job for over a decade.

I had not even looked at the AP list. What happened? Jenny York is not listed there, but she is listed as admin for several departments still. She just got there a few years ago right? I guess maybe that happens a lot, but MHS definitely had people who stayed for a while under Reily.

I don't know but they've always maxed out at four APs, unlike some schools that have more, and right now they are showing four:

Lowry (current AP)
Bradshaw (current AP), plus Bowerman (former Langley/Chantilly DSA, as interim while she is on maternity leave)
Wolfson (new AP and former Special Education teacher at McLean)
Winfrey (new AP and former AP at Chantilly)

It appears that both York and Barham have moved on; neither is in the staff directory any longer.

Looks like Monica Charles-Williams is gone too. The names I recognize on the current list are all good people, but lots of turnover. I wonder if most left because they enjoyed working for Dr. R and didn't want to ride out new leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS will hire anybody. Sometimes i think they flip a coin when they make their decision.

McNair Upper Elementary school has had a principal that’s incompetent since the school opened and I think she had already been with FCPS for a while, so they knew what they were getting.

The interim principal at McLean seems well qualified. There’s also been some turnover in the AP ranks with Dr. Reilly’s departure and the two new APs seem fine (one is a former McLean teacher and the other is coming from Chantilly). Also, another AP will be on maternity leave and the person they found to fill in for her has a lot of experience (former Langley DSA).

Reilly came from Herndon and people at McLean didn’t really know her when she arrived but she ended up doing a very good job for over a decade.

I had not even looked at the AP list. What happened? Jenny York is not listed there, but she is listed as admin for several departments still. She just got there a few years ago right? I guess maybe that happens a lot, but MHS definitely had people who stayed for a while under Reily.

I don't know but they've always maxed out at four APs, unlike some schools that have more, and right now they are showing four:

Lowry (current AP)
Bradshaw (current AP), plus Bowerman (former Langley/Chantilly DSA, as interim while she is on maternity leave)
Wolfson (new AP and former Special Education teacher at McLean)
Winfrey (new AP and former AP at Chantilly)

It appears that both York and Barham have moved on; neither is in the staff directory any longer.

Looks like Monica Charles-Williams is gone too. The names I recognize on the current list are all good people, but lots of turnover. I wonder if most left because they enjoyed working for Dr. R and didn't want to ride out new leadership.

A number of APs under Dr. Reilly at McLean went on to become principals at other high schools - Novak at Falls Church, Lane at Oakton, and Rolon at Justice. Many APs aspire to become principals eventually and think they improve their chances if they work in a variety of school environments.

[Anonymous]

Dang.

TJ took 3 of WSHS administrators! Plus some teachers.

Wtf?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS will hire anybody. Sometimes i think they flip a coin when they make their decision.

McNair Upper Elementary school has had a principal that’s incompetent since the school opened and I think she had already been with FCPS for a while, so they knew what they were getting.

The interim principal at McLean seems well qualified. There’s also been some turnover in the AP ranks with Dr. Reilly’s departure and the two new APs seem fine (one is a former McLean teacher and the other is coming from Chantilly). Also, another AP will be on maternity leave and the person they found to fill in for her has a lot of experience (former Langley DSA).

Reilly came from Herndon and people at McLean didn’t really know her when she arrived but she ended up doing a very good job for over a decade.

I had not even looked at the AP list. What happened? Jenny York is not listed there, but she is listed as admin for several departments still. She just got there a few years ago right? I guess maybe that happens a lot, but MHS definitely had people who stayed for a while under Reily.

I don't know but they've always maxed out at four APs, unlike some schools that have more, and right now they are showing four:

Lowry (current AP)
Bradshaw (current AP), plus Bowerman (former Langley/Chantilly DSA, as interim while she is on maternity leave)
Wolfson (new AP and former Special Education teacher at McLean)
Winfrey (new AP and former AP at Chantilly)

It appears that both York and Barham have moved on; neither is in the staff directory any longer.

Looks like Monica Charles-Williams is gone too. The names I recognize on the current list are all good people, but lots of turnover. I wonder if most left because they enjoyed working for Dr. R and didn't want to ride out new leadership.

Ms Charles-Williams left a year ago & went to PWCS.

[Anonymous]

Where did Jeff Barham go? He was at MHS for a long time and seemed to be a good admin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where did Jeff Barham go? He was at MHS for a long time and seemed to be a good admin.

Loudoun County.

[Anonymous]

Hearing that the timeline for new principal is likely in Sept.

Who do we think is on their shortlist?!

[Anonymous]

Raven Jones the principal of Luther Jackson got the position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way that school with start with a new principal. It will be an interim who will tread water until Gatehouse anoints the principal (which will totally be a Gatehouse pick, not the parent/teacher/community choice).

I totally agree with this take

Middle aged white man or white woman with a spouse and two kids owns a dog. Lives in Fairfax somewhere upper middle class. Was probably a social studies or math teacher. Has done time at a fairly white middle school, assistant principal time at a slightly more “diverse” elementary school but for like three years.

Won’t be male or female PoC guaranteed

This didn’t age well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way that school with start with a new principal. It will be an interim who will tread water until Gatehouse anoints the principal (which will totally be a Gatehouse pick, not the parent/teacher/community choice).

I totally agree with this take

Middle aged white man or white woman with a spouse and two kids owns a dog. Lives in Fairfax somewhere upper middle class. Was probably a social studies or math teacher. Has done time at a fairly white middle school, assistant principal time at a slightly more “diverse” elementary school but for like three years.

Won’t be male or female PoC guaranteed

Why not? The Principal before Reilly was a female POC.

[Anonymous]

The principal was announced today - Raven Jones who was principal of Luther Jackson. Thus the predictions above were totally off the mark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The principal was announced today - Raven Jones who was principal of Luther Jackson. Thus the predictions above were totally off the mark.

Welcome, Ms. Jones!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal was announced today - Raven Jones who was principal of Luther Jackson. Thus the predictions above were totally off the mark.

Welcome, Ms. Jones!

She won an "Outstanding new principal" award in 2024.

[Anonymous]

What’s the update on this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s the update on this?

She just attended the joint Longfellow/ McL band concert and received a warm welcome from the Band director.

This matters.

Among Varsity sports, the McLean varsity marching band wins more overall than any other sport. It also has the highest GPA.

The new principal supporting band/music at a school like McLean is a smart first move.