Just a few weeks after quietly firing certain principals, D.C. Public Schools has found their replacements.
The school system said in early June that it was replacing 18 of its principals for the new school year, but would not confirm who among the turnover was retiring, leaving for a position elsewhere, or being fired. The Washington Examiner was able to independently verify that the principals of Garrison Elementary School and Shaw Middle School were among the principals receiving pink slips.
And DCPS has their replacements ready. In a letter dated July 2, Chancellor Kaya Henderson announced that Guillaume Gendre, the resident principal at McKinley Technology Senior High School, and a New Leaders for New Schools program graduate, will take the helm at Shaw Middle School.
“Mr. Gendre is excited to meet all of you, and I hope you will give him your warm welcome and support as he leads your children toward success,” Henderson said.
Garrison Elementary also has a new principal: Collin Hill, who will begin July 16, most recently served as the assistant principal at Walker-Jones Education Campus and is also a New Leaders graduate.
In each case, DCPS convened panels of parents, teachers and community members to interview prospective principals.
Other highlights among the replacement principals:
— The new principal of Aiton Elementary was poached from an elementary school in Montgomery County, while a former Aiton principal is going to Brookland Education Campus.
— James Albright, who was appointed the interim principal of Deal Middle School after the principal left mid-year, is being kept on for the 2012-2013 school year.
— The new Langdon, Shaw and Garrison principals completed the New Leaders for New Schools program.
— The new head of Woodson is a DCPS graduate.
The full list of replacements, including their DCPS-supplied bios:
Aiton Elementary: Shahid Muhammed
“Mr. Muhammed comes to DCPS from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). During his 15 years working for MCPS, he served as both an elementary school teacher and a school administrator. After eight years as a classroom teacher, Mr. Muhammed transitioned into the role of assistant principal, which led to an opportunity to lead his own school. He has a decade of experience in school leadership, with his most recent role as the principal at Waters Landing Elementary School. Mr. Muhammed earned his bachelor’s degree from the Catholic University of America in elementary education and his master’s degree in administration and supervision from Bowie State University.”
Brookland Education Campus: Irina Malykhina
“Ms. Malykhina started her career in education in Russia earning her bachelor’s degree in English and German and her master’s degree in education. She served as an elementary English language learner (ELL), reading and math teacher for more than a decade in both Russia and the United States. She became the ELL and bilingual student services director for Seattle Public Schools in Washington State before serving as an assistant principal here in DCPS at Bruce-Monroe at Parkview Elementary School. Most recently, she served as the principal of Aiton Elementary School.”
Cardozo Senior High School: Tanya Roane
“Ms. Roane is originally from the Richmond, Va., area. Her eight years as a classroom teacher include experience teaching both elementary and middle school English. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Virginia Union University and a master’s degree in English literature from Virginia State University. She is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in educational leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition to serving public schools, Ms. Roane also taught a course part-time at a local community college. Prior to coming to DC, she was the principal at Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, which is a comprehensive high school where more than 90 percent of students graduate on-time and matriculate to two- and four-year colleges and universities.”
Deal Middle School: James Albright
“Mr. Albright has spent his entire DCPS career at Deal Middle School. He began there as the school’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program coordinator and academic advisor. He then transitioned into the role of assistant principal before serving as the interim principal for Deal Middle School. Prior to working for DC Public Schools, Mr. Albright was an IB Middle Years Program coordinator and special education teacher in Fairfax County, Va. We are excited for Mr. Albright to continue his leadership of the Deal community.”
Garfield Elementary School: Kennard Branch
“During this first phase of Garfield’s turnaround, the School Improvement Grant and the Race to the Top initiative will continue to provide promising opportunities to take Garfield Elementary to the next level. Due to a variety of circumstances, Administrator Kennard Branch has led these initiatives during the current school year. His steady leadership was a needed and welcome addition to Garfield during a year with a lot of changes.
As such, I am excited to announce the appointment of Mr. Kennard Branch as principal of Garfield Elementary School. Before leading Garfield, Mr. Branch served as an assistant principal at MacFarland Middle School, and as a principal’s coach with a variety of DCPS elementary schools. Mr. Branch was also a teacher in the School District of Philadelphia.”
Garrison Elementary: Collin Hill
“Mr. Hill is a native Washingtonian who has spent 10 years serving the students and families of DC Public Schools. His prior years in DCPS were spent at Bell Multicultural High School, which is now Columbia Heights Education Campus, where he served as English department chairperson and literacy coordinator. For four years, he worked in New York City supporting leadership teams and teachers in their school reform efforts. Upon returning to the district, Mr. Hill was accepted into in the New Leaders for New Schools program and served as resident principal at Browne Education Campus. Most recently, he served as assistant principal at Scott Montgomery Elementary School and Walker-Jones Education Campus.”
Langdon Education Campus: Shannon Foster
“Ms. Foster is a native Washingtonian and an alumna of Banneker Senior High School. She has devoted her entire career in education to DC Public Schools. For nine years, she was a fifth-grade teacher at Miner Elementary School, where she also served as an after school coordinator. After obtaining her master’s degree in educational administration from Trinity College and completing the New Leaders for New Schools program for aspiring school leaders, Ms. Foster assumed the role of principal at River Terrace Elementary School where she has been for the last four years.”
Mamie D. Lee School: Aimee Pressley
“Ms. Pressley began her career in education as a special education teacher in Prince George’s County Public Schools. While in this role, she taught Spanish and mathematics to students with cognitive and emotional disabilities. Leveraging her dual-language ability, she served as a liaison between the school and Hispanic parents. She also mentored and provided in-service seminars to her colleagues on interpreting and applying the accommodations and modifications outlined in students’ Individualized Education Programs. Ms. Pressley has a master’s degree in Special Education from Johns Hopkins University and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Administration and Policy from Howard University. More recently, Ms. Pressley has served as the special education coordinator and assistant principal at Mamie D. Lee and Sharpe Health schools.”
Moten Elementary School: Mireille Lopez-Humes
“With nearly 10 years of teaching experience on the elementary level, Ms. Lopez-Humes brings a wealth of knowledge and instructional expertise. Prior to coming to DC Public Schools, Ms. Lopez-Humes worked for Prince George’s County Public Schools in various roles, including teacher, English as a second language coordinator, and administrative intern. Since 2009, Ms. Lopez-Humes has served as the assistant principal at Eliot-Hine Middle School. She obtained her master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from Trinity College.”
Prospect Learning Center: Heidi Haggerty-Wagner
“Ms. Haggerty-Wagner has devoted her entire career to serving the needs of special education students. In 1987, she began her career in education as a special education teacher at the St. Coletta School in Arlington, VA and later at Kenmore Middle School. After ten years as a special education teacher, she became the special education coordinator for Arlington Public Schools. In this role, she supported the special education departments at various schools throughout the district in order to ensure that the needs of all students were being met. With 25 years of experience in special education, Ms. Haggerty-Wagner brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to support the needs of students at Prospect Learning Center.”
Seaton Elementary School: Kimberly Jackson
“Ms. Jackson has over a decade of experience as a special education teacher and teacher leader. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Morgan State University and a master’s degree in special education from Coppin State College. In addition to her teaching experience, she brings to DC Public Schools over ten years of experience as a school administrator in Illinois and in New Jersey. Most recently, she served as the principal of Moorestown Upper Elementary School in Moorestown, New Jersey. She is originally from the Washington, DC area and is excited to return and serve the students and families of the District of Columbia.”
Shaw Middle School: Guillaume Gendre
“Mr. Gendre comes from a legacy of great school leaders. His father was principal of a school in France and he was raised on school grounds. His upbringing instilled in him a passion to lead students to higher achievement levels. For the last two years, Mr. Gendre has served as the assistant principal and then resident principal at McKinley Technology High School, while completing the New Leaders for New Schools program. Prior to joining DC Public Schools, Mr. Gendre was a teacher and school administrator in the state of Oregon.”
Walker-Jones: Michael Moss
“Mr. Moss is originally from Ohio, but has devoted the majority of his career in education to DC Public Schools. Since 2009, Mr. Moss has served as the assistant principal at McKinley Technology High School. Prior to this role, he was a special education teacher and after school coordinator at Browne Education Campus. Mr. Moss is a graduate of Morehouse College and has earned a master of arts in teaching from Trinity University and a master of arts in education and human development from George Washington University.”
Washington Metropolitan High School: Carlos Perkins
“After beginning his career in education working with post-secondary students, Mr. Perkins transitioned to working with high school students in a DC charter school and, then, at Luke C. Moore High School. The experience he gained working with post-secondary students has provided him with a keen understanding of what high school students need to be successful after graduation. While at Luke C. Moore High School, Mr. Perkins served as dean of students and, most recently, as the assistant principal. Mr. Perkins earned his master of arts in education from the University of Maryland and expects to complete a doctorate in educational leadership at Bowie State University in the spring of 2013.”
Woodson Senior High School: Richard Jackson
“Mr. Jackson is a proud product of DC Public Schools. After graduating from Cardozo Senior High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Alabama State University and a master’s degree in urban education from The Ohio State University. In the 18 years since completing his education, Mr. Jackson has served in various roles at Spingarn Senior High School, Phelps Architecture, Construction and Engineering High School, Anacostia Senior High School, and most recently as principal of Coolidge Senior High School. He has also served as principal at a DC charter school and a middle school in Prince George’s County, MD.”
