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In the News

In Alexandria, new principal takes on challenges at Mount Vernon Community School

Peter Balas is the new principal at Mount Vernon Community School in Alexandria. He is the school’s third principal in five years. His mission is to bring up the test scores and close the achievement gap of the school’s diverse student body.

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Aug. 6, 2012

Principal Peter Balas checks on classrooms as he makes his rounds at Mount Vernon Community School in Alexandria. Last year, Balas was the executive associate principal for curriculum and instruction at T.C. Williams High School.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Balas waves to students as he stands next to second-grade teacher Anna Harvin. His success at T.C. Williams High School, raising the passing rate on English tests to 95 percent in 2011 from 84 percent two years prior, led the district to make him principal at Mount Vernon Community School.

Aug. 6, 2012

Balas waves to students as he stands next to second-grade teacher Anna Harvin. His success at T.C. Williams High School, raising the passing rate on English tests to 95 percent in 2011 from 84 percent two years prior, led the district to make him principal at Mount Vernon Community School.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Third-grade teacher Maria Fletcher, right, addresses her class at Mount Vernon Community School. Balas has made changes to the teaching curriculum, among other new additions to how the school is structured.

Aug. 6, 2012

Third-grade teacher Maria Fletcher, right, addresses her class at Mount Vernon Community School. Balas has made changes to the teaching curriculum, among other new additions to how the school is structured.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Holly Rocchetti, left, teaches her fifth-grade class as student Jasmine Haskins, 9, right, follows along. Mount Vernon has a diverse student population. Only a third of the 713 students are white.

Aug. 6, 2012

Holly Rocchetti, left, teaches her fifth-grade class as student Jasmine Haskins, 9, right, follows along. Mount Vernon has a diverse student population. Only a third of the 713 students are white.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Balas works in his office at Mount Vernon Community School. Academically, Mount Vernon faces challenges presented to public schools in areas with diverse populations. While its white students perform above the city average, Latino students are far behind. In third-grade math, for example, the gap has widened from 12 percentage points in 2007 to 24 in 2011.

Aug. 6, 2012

Balas works in his office at Mount Vernon Community School. Academically, Mount Vernon faces challenges presented to public schools in areas with diverse populations. While its white students perform above the city average, Latino students are far behind. In third-grade math, for example, the gap has widened from 12 percentage points in 2007 to 24 in 2011.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Balas laughs along with extended-learning coordinator Lacey Gandy, center, and parent volunteer, Karen Graf. One of the things Balas has had to work on is teacher morale. “The teachers were doing everything they could do as professionals and not seeing the results,” Balas said. “They felt beat up.”

Aug. 6, 2012

Balas laughs along with extended-learning coordinator Lacey Gandy, center, and parent volunteer, Karen Graf. One of the things Balas has had to work on is teacher morale. “The teachers were doing everything they could do as professionals and not seeing the results,” Balas said. “They felt beat up.”

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Balas wipes his brow as students board their school bus for the ride home at the end of the school day at Mount Vernon. The school operates on an unusual schedule, starting classes for the new academic year on Aug. 1. Although the summer break is shorter for students, there are more breaks within each semester.

Aug. 6, 2012

Balas wipes his brow as students board their school bus for the ride home at the end of the school day at Mount Vernon. The school operates on an unusual schedule, starting classes for the new academic year on Aug. 1. Although the summer break is shorter for students, there are more breaks within each semester.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Balas walks a student to his bus. The principal wants students and their parents to see him as approachable and as someone who truly cares. “It’s nice to have my kids come home laughing about the funny things he’s said,” said Lisa Guernsey-Krupicka, a parent of a two Mount Vernon students. “Our previous principal was known for her whistle.”

Aug. 6, 2012

Balas walks a student to his bus. The principal wants students and their parents to see him as approachable and as someone who truly cares. “It’s nice to have my kids come home laughing about the funny things he’s said,” said Lisa Guernsey-Krupicka, a parent of a two Mount Vernon students. “Our previous principal was known for her whistle.”

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

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