Principal Douglas Nelson was placed on administrative leave on Dec. 6, 2024, and on Dec. 11, Dr. Joseph Bostic Jr. became this school’s acting principal. On May 1, students and parents received a Remind message sharing that Nelson will be taking on a new role in MCPS central office and Dr. Bostic will be finishing this year as the acting principal.
As acting principal, Bostic focused on listening to the school community and learning about the local area through working with this school’s feeder elementary and middle schools. Bostic emphasized the power of collaboration, which brought a level of new strength in bridging spaces for each student and staff members to be seen, heard and valued. “Even though Dr. Bostic came mid-year, he was able to quickly make changes and gain the favor of the students by reaching out, setting up meetings, and not only acknowledging our concerns, but also creating practical solutions that we get a say in. He brought a sense of care and commitment that made students feel safer and more respected,” sophomore class president Manasa Iyer said.
Student voice is important in deciding on the next principal due to impacts of administration on students. “I think it’s important that students have a say in the next principal because the principal will be representing them. As students we need to make sure that a principal that will listen to our voices and represent us well will be chosen,” sophomore Jolie Ginsburg said.
Students are encouraged to advocate their preferences regarding the next representative of this school. “I believe it is important for students to take an active role in helping select the next principal. The principal affects nearly every aspect of students’ life, and when students are involved, it sends the idea that their opinions/voices also matter. Even if students don’t get to make the final call, giving them this opportunity fosters more trust between the students and administration,” Iyer said.
A student meeting was held during lunch in the main gym on May 23. It was intended to inform students of the principal hiring process and to allow students to take an active role in deciding the key characteristics essential to the next principal. “I think some things students look for in a principal include how approachable they are and how much they genuinely care about the well-being of the students. I believe students would appreciate having a principal that understands their concerns and actively works to resolve them, ensuring all students feel respected, understood, and safe,” Iyer said.
During the meeting, the process to select a principal was outlined in a graph that included nine steps. “[The graph] provided me with a better sense of what stage of the process we are in,” junior Ava Eisenman said.
The process begins with the vacancy being advertised using MCPS’ national search process and the position being posted so candidates can express interest. The community provides input and identifies interview questions including determining large themes. A panel consisting of approximately five to six parents, five to six staff members, and four to five central office staff conduct interviews of the candidates of about four to five candidates. Following this, there are finalist interviews of two to three candidates. An appointment from the Board of Education is anticipated for June 10, at the earliest.
