Principal appointments 2023

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know of candidates for Watkins Mill? I think Kennedy has their choice locked up (yes, it’s early, but you’d be surprised how these processes move behind the scenes).

Kennedy parent here, who do you think the choice is? I hope the search is genuine and not performative.

Has to be James Allrich at Argyle. Kids feed into that school, he’s familiar with the high school level, and he’s won award after award. Usually, they try to get. a cluster MS principal to move into that position.

Ah yes, I saw his name thrown out. I guess we'll have to see! Didn't know of the preference for cluster MS principals, though that totally makes sense.

Yes, because Sam Levine was the principal intern last year and while he’s skilled (I’ve worked with him), it’d be better for him to get a middle school assignment especially since he’s a novice principal.

True, although several of the recently hired HS principals have been novice principals: Wootton, Northwest, Einstein, Rockville.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know of candidates for Watkins Mill? I think Kennedy has their choice locked up (yes, it’s early, but you’d be surprised how these processes move behind the scenes).

Kennedy parent here, who do you think the choice is? I hope the search is genuine and not performative.

Has to be James Allrich at Argyle. Kids feed into that school, he’s familiar with the high school level, and he’s won award after award. Usually, they try to get. a cluster MS principal to move into that position.

Ah yes, I saw his name thrown out. I guess we'll have to see! Didn't know of the preference for cluster MS principals, though that totally makes sense.

Yes, because Sam Levine was the principal intern last year and while he’s skilled (I’ve worked with him), it’d be better for him to get a middle school assignment especially since he’s a novice principal.

Agree. He's a nice guy but not equipped for the challenges Kennedy faces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know of candidates for Watkins Mill? I think Kennedy has their choice locked up (yes, it’s early, but you’d be surprised how these processes move behind the scenes).

Kennedy parent here, who do you think the choice is? I hope the search is genuine and not performative.

Has to be James Allrich at Argyle. Kids feed into that school, he’s familiar with the high school level, and he’s won award after award. Usually, they try to get. a cluster MS principal to move into that position.

Ah yes, I saw his name thrown out. I guess we'll have to see! Didn't know of the preference for cluster MS principals, though that totally makes sense.

Yes, because Sam Levine was the principal intern last year and while he’s skilled (I’ve worked with him), it’d be better for him to get a middle school assignment especially since he’s a novice principal.

True, although several of the recently hired HS principals have been novice principals: Wootton, Northwest, Einstein, Rockville.

While they were novice principals, all of them had the vast majority of their teaching and leadership experiences occur in High School. For Einstein, Mark Brown was at RM under Monteleone and Blake as a Principal Intern. For Rockville, Pyles was at Clarksburg a long time and did her principal internship at Farquhar. At Northwest, Scott Smith worked mostly in North County schools such as Seneca Valley. For Wootton, Doug Nelson was at B-CC (although his early experiences were Clemente & SSI). The pattern is that ppl who have been in the MS level the majority of the time get Middle School principalships, and Levine was a longtime figure at Westland. Overall, great guy but not ready for Kennedy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know of candidates for Watkins Mill? I think Kennedy has their choice locked up (yes, it’s early, but you’d be surprised how these processes move behind the scenes).

Rumor is Vilma Najera who is the Acting at Brown Station. She was AP at QO previously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know of candidates for Watkins Mill? I think Kennedy has their choice locked up (yes, it’s early, but you’d be surprised how these processes move behind the scenes).

Rumor is Vilma Najera who is the Acting at Brown Station. She was AP at QO previously.

I think she started her career at Watkins Mill before moving to Springbrook. Most of her career has been in ESOL & focused on MSP for the county. This makes a lot of sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know of candidates for Watkins Mill? I think Kennedy has their choice locked up (yes, it’s early, but you’d be surprised how these processes move behind the scenes).

Kennedy parent here, who do you think the choice is? I hope the search is genuine and not performative.

Has to be James Allrich at Argyle. Kids feed into that school, he’s familiar with the high school level, and he’s won award after award. Usually, they try to get. a cluster MS principal to move into that position.

I wouldn’t be surprised if James Allrich wanted to stay in middle school. That seems to be his jam. I think if he wanted it he’d get it over Vilma Najera, who is younger and less experienced. Middle school principals often want the high school principalship because it’s a pay bump, but I can think of at least one high school where the middle school principal was passed over in favor of someone who was a stronger candidate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know of candidates for Watkins Mill? I think Kennedy has their choice locked up (yes, it’s early, but you’d be surprised how these processes move behind the scenes).

Kennedy parent here, who do you think the choice is? I hope the search is genuine and not performative.

Has to be James Allrich at Argyle. Kids feed into that school, he’s familiar with the high school level, and he’s won award after award. Usually, they try to get. a cluster MS principal to move into that position.

Ah yes, I saw his name thrown out. I guess we'll have to see! Didn't know of the preference for cluster MS principals, though that totally makes sense.

I think it's actually pretty rare for a MS principal to get promoted to principal of that cluster's HS. The only two high schools I can think of where the principal came from their school's feeder MS are Blair and Churchill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know of candidates for Watkins Mill? I think Kennedy has their choice locked up (yes, it’s early, but you’d be surprised how these processes move behind the scenes).

Kennedy parent here, who do you think the choice is? I hope the search is genuine and not performative.

Has to be James Allrich at Argyle. Kids feed into that school, he’s familiar with the high school level, and he’s won award after award. Usually, they try to get. a cluster MS principal to move into that position.

Ah yes, I saw his name thrown out. I guess we'll have to see! Didn't know of the preference for cluster MS principals, though that totally makes sense.

I think it's actually pretty rare for a MS principal to get promoted to principal of that cluster's HS. The only two high schools I can think of where the principal came from their school's feeder MS are Blair and Churchill.

I think it’s less common with Dr. McKnight. Former superintendents placed and believed in placing more middle school principals at high schools in their cluster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know of candidates for Watkins Mill? I think Kennedy has their choice locked up (yes, it’s early, but you’d be surprised how these processes move behind the scenes).

Kennedy parent here, who do you think the choice is? I hope the search is genuine and not performative.

Has to be James Allrich at Argyle. Kids feed into that school, he’s familiar with the high school level, and he’s won award after award. Usually, they try to get. a cluster MS principal to move into that position.

I wouldn’t be surprised if James Allrich wanted to stay in middle school. That seems to be his jam. I think if he wanted it he’d get it over Vilma Najera, who is younger and less experienced. Middle school principals often want the high school principalship because it’s a pay bump, but I can think of at least one high school where the middle school principal was passed over in favor of someone who was a stronger candidate.

Fair. I just feel that with his many award, his kids getting older, the fact that he’s been there for almost a decade now, and his constant leadership on county boards such as the MS PLC, he might feel that it’s time for a new challenge. Any other suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know of candidates for Watkins Mill? I think Kennedy has their choice locked up (yes, it’s early, but you’d be surprised how these processes move behind the scenes).

Kennedy parent here, who do you think the choice is? I hope the search is genuine and not performative.

Has to be James Allrich at Argyle. Kids feed into that school, he’s familiar with the high school level, and he’s won award after award. Usually, they try to get. a cluster MS principal to move into that position.

Ah yes, I saw his name thrown out. I guess we'll have to see! Didn't know of the preference for cluster MS principals, though that totally makes sense.

I think it's actually pretty rare for a MS principal to get promoted to principal of that cluster's HS. The only two high schools I can think of where the principal came from their school's feeder MS are Blair and Churchill.

For me to say it was a preference was an oversight on my part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know of candidates for Watkins Mill? I think Kennedy has their choice locked up (yes, it’s early, but you’d be surprised how these processes move behind the scenes).

Kennedy parent here, who do you think the choice is? I hope the search is genuine and not performative.

Has to be James Allrich at Argyle. Kids feed into that school, he’s familiar with the high school level, and he’s won award after award. Usually, they try to get. a cluster MS principal to move into that position.

Ah yes, I saw his name thrown out. I guess we'll have to see! Didn't know of the preference for cluster MS principals, though that totally makes sense.

I think it's actually pretty rare for a MS principal to get promoted to principal of that cluster's HS. The only two high schools I can think of where the principal came from their school's feeder MS are Blair and Churchill.

I think it’s less common with Dr. McKnight. Former superintendents placed and believed in placing more middle school principals at high schools in their cluster.

I know it’s early in her tenure, but I agree with this observation, and think that it needs to be changed. There have been some, shall we say, rather interesting choices made at all levels. Najera knows Title I/lower income school, and Allrich knows the complexities of the community as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know of candidates for Watkins Mill? I think Kennedy has their choice locked up (yes, it’s early, but you’d be surprised how these processes move behind the scenes).

Kennedy parent here, who do you think the choice is? I hope the search is genuine and not performative.

Has to be James Allrich at Argyle. Kids feed into that school, he’s familiar with the high school level, and he’s won award after award. Usually, they try to get. a cluster MS principal to move into that position.

Ah yes, I saw his name thrown out. I guess we'll have to see! Didn't know of the preference for cluster MS principals, though that totally makes sense.

I think it's actually pretty rare for a MS principal to get promoted to principal of that cluster's HS. The only two high schools I can think of where the principal came from their school's feeder MS are Blair and Churchill.

WJ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know of candidates for Watkins Mill? I think Kennedy has their choice locked up (yes, it’s early, but you’d be surprised how these processes move behind the scenes).

Kennedy parent here, who do you think the choice is? I hope the search is genuine and not performative.

Has to be James Allrich at Argyle. Kids feed into that school, he’s familiar with the high school level, and he’s won award after award. Usually, they try to get. a cluster MS principal to move into that position.

Ah yes, I saw his name thrown out. I guess we'll have to see! Didn't know of the preference for cluster MS principals, though that totally makes sense.

I think it's actually pretty rare for a MS principal to get promoted to principal of that cluster's HS. The only two high schools I can think of where the principal came from their school's feeder MS are Blair and Churchill.

WJ?

That’s correct, Jennifer Baker led Tilden. Fun fact: McKnight was her principal intern the year before taking the WJ job.

The old Paint Branch principal (now in BCPS - Myriam Yarborough (then Rogers)) led Francis Scott Key. Joe Rubens led Lee MS before moving to Kennedy. Beth Thomas led Kingsview MS, became a director, and is now leading QO. Edward Owusu led Shady Grove MS before Clarksburg. MS feeder -> HS is common.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know of candidates for Watkins Mill? I think Kennedy has their choice locked up (yes, it’s early, but you’d be surprised how these processes move behind the scenes).

Kennedy parent here, who do you think the choice is? I hope the search is genuine and not performative.

Has to be James Allrich at Argyle. Kids feed into that school, he’s familiar with the high school level, and he’s won award after award. Usually, they try to get. a cluster MS principal to move into that position.

Ah yes, I saw his name thrown out. I guess we'll have to see! Didn't know of the preference for cluster MS principals, though that totally makes sense.

I think it's actually pretty rare for a MS principal to get promoted to principal of that cluster's HS. The only two high schools I can think of where the principal came from their school's feeder MS are Blair and Churchill.

WJ?

That’s correct, Jennifer Baker led Tilden. Fun fact: McKnight was her principal intern the year before taking the WJ job.

The old Paint Branch principal (now in BCPS - Myriam Yarborough (then Rogers)) led Francis Scott Key. Joe Rubens led Lee MS before moving to Kennedy. Beth Thomas led Kingsview MS, became a director, and is now leading QO. Edward Owusu led Shady Grove MS before Clarksburg. MS feeder -> HS is common.

Yes, MS to HS is common, but moving within the cluster is not. There are just 4 out of 25 current principals who moved from MS to the HS of the same cluster (Johnson from TPMS to Blair, Taylor from Cabin John to Churchill, Baker from Tilden to WJ, and Rubens from Lee to Kennedy).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know of candidates for Watkins Mill? I think Kennedy has their choice locked up (yes, it’s early, but you’d be surprised how these processes move behind the scenes).

Kennedy parent here, who do you think the choice is? I hope the search is genuine and not performative.

Has to be James Allrich at Argyle. Kids feed into that school, he’s familiar with the high school level, and he’s won award after award. Usually, they try to get. a cluster MS principal to move into that position.

Ah yes, I saw his name thrown out. I guess we'll have to see! Didn't know of the preference for cluster MS principals, though that totally makes sense.

I think it's actually pretty rare for a MS principal to get promoted to principal of that cluster's HS. The only two high schools I can think of where the principal came from their school's feeder MS are Blair and Churchill.

WJ?

That’s correct, Jennifer Baker led Tilden. Fun fact: McKnight was her principal intern the year before taking the WJ job.

The old Paint Branch principal (now in BCPS - Myriam Yarborough (then Rogers)) led Francis Scott Key. Joe Rubens led Lee MS before moving to Kennedy. Beth Thomas led Kingsview MS, became a director, and is now leading QO. Edward Owusu led Shady Grove MS before Clarksburg. MS feeder -> HS is common.

Yes, MS to HS is common, but moving within the cluster is not. There are just 4 out of 25 current principals who moved from MS to the HS of the same cluster (Johnson from TPMS to Blair, Taylor from Cabin John to Churchill, Baker from Tilden to WJ, and Rubens from Lee to Kennedy).

Yes, middle school principals often get promoted before the high school in their cluster has an opening. But when the timing works out, there at least used to be a bias toward having them move up with their students.