By Daniel de Vise
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 18, 2007
To become the principal of a Montgomery County school, it's not necessary to amass decades of service or be more experienced than most of the teaching staff. It is, however, helpful to know how to work a spreadsheet, how to juggle the often conflicting needs of teachers and parents and the demands of statewide testing, and, most of all, how to bring out the best in your teachers.
"I can say that today we want people who have it all," said David I. Steinberg, director of the school system's leadership development team. "We want people who are analytical, but we also want people who are very people-oriented, because it's a people-oriented business."
The county has one of the nation's most intensive principal training programs. Trainees must complete a two-year assistant principal development program, then work as an assistant principal or enter a year-long principal internship program, working under a seasoned principal, before applying for a permanent principal's job. Throughout the training period, the future principal meets regularly with a team of administrators who serve as coaches and evaluators.
Nearly 90 percent of the county's principals are homegrown. The training program assembled by School Superintendent Jerry D. Weast has generated dozens of new principals, in many cases comparatively younger than the teachers at the schools. Some of the 27 principals who started work this fall, for example, are in their early 30s; the average age of the county's teachers is 42.
The new generation of principals is generally regarded as smart, energetic and skilled at dealing with the concerns of county parents. Here are the profiles of seven recent graduates of the principal training program.
Sarah Sirgo Woodlin Elementary School Silver Spring¿ Age: 32.
¿ Hometown: Silver Spring.
¿ Education: BA, MA, University of Maryland; administrative certificate, Johns Hopkins University.
¿ Year as principal: first.
¿ Background: speech language pathologist, special education teacher and program specialist, assistant principal. Started in Montgomery in 1999.
¿ Hobbies: "I try to set a personal goal for myself each year that has nothing to do with being a principal. I find it very humbling to spend time learning something new in order to remember what it's like to grow and be a lifelong learner. One year I tried to learn to knit, and a year and a half ago I took up tennis."
Q: Why are you an educator?
A: I consider myself a teacher of teachers. Sometimes I forget that I'm the principal because I see myself as merely a lead teacher on the staff.
How far in this field do you hope to go?
People have made comments about my career and called me driven, but my drive has always been to do the best I can where I am at the time. Right now I can't imagine doing anything else than being a principal at Woodlin Elementary.
Is it hard to supervise older or more experienced educators?
Only once in my career has it been mentioned, and that was when I was evaluating an underperforming teacher. I told the teacher it was an inappropriate comment and it was never mentioned again. However, even if it isn't said directly to me, I know what people see when I walk into a room and introduce myself. I know that I don't "look" like what people would expect, but I always say that I'm not alone. I have many colleagues and friends who are young principals and we received excellent training and support in MCPS to do this job and do it well.
Christopher Garran Walter Johnson High School Bethesda¿ Age: 39.
¿ Hometown: White River Junction, Vt.
¿ Education: BA, MA, American University; Ph.D., University of Maryland.
¿ Background: social studies teacher and department chair, assistant principal; worked mostly at Walter Johnson. Started in Montgomery in 1992.
¿ Year as principal: third.
¿ Hobby: training for the Marine Corps Marathon, which will be his first.
¿ Random fact: He still co-teaches a social studies class.
Q: Why are you an educator?
A: The short answer is sixth-grade peer pressure. As a junior at American University, I was involved in a community service project where I tutored math every Wednesday at Lincoln Junior High School in Washington. At the end of the semester, when I was leaving, I told the class that I would visit in the second semester. From the back of the room, a sixth-grade student with whom I had worked closely announced to the whole class, "Yeah, right. We'll never see him again." I ended up going back every Wednesday for the second semester -- just to prove him wrong. I doubt that young man ever knew how much of an influence he had on my life.
Is it hard to supervise older or more experienced educators?
When I first came back to Walter Johnson as the acting principal, I realized that some of the staff had been present when I student-taught here. I imagined them thinking, 'We used to kick this kid out of the staff bathroom, and now he is our principal.' Largely, it was in my head.
Audra Fladung Stonegate Elementary School Silver Spring¿ Age: 35.
¿ Hometown: Landover Hills.
¿ Education: BA, University of Maryland; MA, Bowie State University; post-master's certification, Towson University.
¿ Background: third-grade teacher, staff development teacher, literacy specialist, assistant principal; five schools. Started in Montgomery in 1995.
¿ Year as principal: first.
¿ Hobby: writing poetry.
Q: Why are you an educator?
A: Simply put, because it's important. As an educator, I am continually challenged intellectually and emotionally. It's never boring and while it may sound corny, as an educator, I have the ability to impact the lives of others and to make our future a better place.
What's the secret to success with the county's demanding parents?
It is important to remember parents and educators have at least one thing in common, the desire for their child to succeed. By keeping the focus on the child and approaching situations with an attitude of respect and a willingness to listen, success is inevitable.
Robert Dodd Strathmore Elementary School Silver Spring¿ Age: 38.
¿ Hometown: Burtonsville.
¿ Education: BA, MA, Western Maryland College.
¿ Background: teacher's aide, fourth- and fifth-grade teacher, assistant principal; five schools. Started in Montgomery in 1993.
¿ Year as principal: third.
¿ Hobby: fly-fishing.
Q: Why are you an educator?
A: My father was a principal and my mother was a teacher in [Montgomery public schools], so I grew up with strong beliefs related to the difference public educators could make in children's lives. Now, as a principal myself, I can see clearly that children's opportunities in school and the high expectations for success we convey to them can be the difference maker.
Is it hard to supervise older or more experienced educators?
I find that excellence in teaching cuts across years of service in the classroom. Certainly, quality experience teaching kids helps a lot, but I have seen new teachers that are phenomenal. Being reflective and always wanting to improve instructional practice in the classroom is a core value that all great teachers possess.
Kevin Lowndes Wheaton High School¿ Age: 43.
¿ Hometown: Tariffville, Conn.
¿ Education: BA, Marietta College; MA, California State
¿ University, Dominguez Hills; administrative certificate, Johns Hopkins University.
¿ Background: "My first job out of college was as a systems analyst for Travelers Insurance Company, Hartford." Junior high school, high school teacher; student support specialist; assistant principal, five schools. Started in Montgomery in 1993.
¿ Year as principal: second.
Q: Why are you an educator?
A: I tried working in business but realized early on that I did not have any passion for that type of work. I am a firm believer in public education and I am passionate about all kids receiving a great education. I believe in helping others and have always enjoyed working with kids.
How far in this field do you hope to go?
I love being a principal and I do not see myself ever leaving the school. For me to be successful I need to focus all my energy and passion on my current job situation.
What's the secret to success with the county's demanding parents?
Always be honest. I am a parent of two, so I always put myself in their situation and work with the parents.
Melissa Brunson Cloverly Elementary School Silver Spring¿ Age: 34.
¿ Hometown: Jersey City
¿ Education: BA, Montclair State University; MA, College of Notre Dame.
¿ Background: therapeutic treatment counselor, special education resource teacher, acting principal; adjunct community college professor. Started in Montgomery in 2001.
¿ Year as principal: first.
¿ Hobbies: reading mysteries, "collecting odd picture frames."
Q: Why are you an educator?
A: Education is the cornerstone to improving and enriching people's lives. I am honored to be a part of the educational movement.
How far in this field do you hope to go?
It's hard to see far into the future. I am pleased to be a school principal at this time in my life.
Charlene Eroh Ashburton Elementary School Bethesda¿ Age: 33.
¿ Hometown: Ringtown, Pa.
¿ Education: BS, Penn State; MS, Hood College.
¿ Background: second, third and fifth-grade teacher, staff development teacher, assistant principal, six schools. Started in Montgomery in 2001.
¿ Years as principal: first.
Q: Is it hard to supervise older or more experienced educators?
A: With veteran educators, a principal has the opportunity to hold collegial conferences in which teacher and administrator can work together to help students improve. More experienced educators can also be a terrific resource for helping beginning teachers learn the challenging and rewarding craft of teaching.
What's the secret to success with the county's demanding parents?
All parents expect the best for their children and I have found they are always willing to support the school in many ways to ensure that their children receive the best possible education. The way to achieve success with all parents is to be open and honest, to ask for suggestions and value their input, and to invite them to be real partners in educating their children.
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