Schools
Neelsville Principal Interviews Begin Today
A panel of parents, school administrators and central office employees will interview candidates on Tuesday morning in Rockville.
The hunt is on for the next Neelsville Middle School principal.
An 18-member panel consisting of six parents, six Neelsville administrators and six central office employees from Montgomery County Public Schools will question candidates during closed-door interviews Tuesday morning and make recommendations to the board of education.
The vacancy came following former principal Dollye McClain’s departure earlier this month. MCPS officials say McClain did not reapply for her position after her school failed to hit Academic Yearly progress targets as outlined by No Child Left Behind educational policies. All top school officials had to reapply for their positions as part of the restructuring. McClain is expected to take position as assistant principal at Paint Branch high school in Burtonsville.
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As of press time Monday, MCPS officials had not responded to Patch's inquiry regarding the number of candidates who had expressed interest in the position.
Parents said the new principal would have big shoes to fill.
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Vonetta Moore, the parent of a of a rising sixth-grade student and a rising sophomore who attended Neelsville under McClain’s leadership, said she wants the next principal to show a commitment to student learning and a commitment to diversity.
“I want someone that has continuity,” Moore said. “I want them to have an open-door policy in communications, and I want them as a leader to respect the students and make education a priority. I want them to bring every person to their higher standards of learning.”
Moore said transition would be hard but parents, teachers and students have to forge ahead.
“I know with all the changes going on this year it will be a bit stressful for the whole school community, but whoever the next principal is I wish them well,” Moore said. “I want parents to support this change and embrace it because this is not somewhere we can go back, we have to move forward.”
MCPS officials said the interviews would take 30 to 45 minutes per candidate. Interviewing panelists would make a list of the top three candidates and make a recommendation to the board of education.
The selected candidate will be required to make a four-year commitment to the school and is expected to assume the position by July 26.
