West Potomac Wire

Interview By Mariya Ilyas

What are your plans after retirement?

I will leave West Potomac on June 26 and leave the next Monday for Estonia to see the huge song festival (30,000 voices) that happens there once every four years.  Then I come back to work with Assistant Superintendent Kim Dockery in Fairfax County Public School’s central office until September 1.   Beginning in September I will be travelling, visiting friends and family, caring for my grandchildren, and going through about 365 boxes that are in my house.  During the time that I have been at West Potomac I have lost my mother, my mother-in-law, and two of my favorite uncles.  I have many of their things, plus boxes from my own activities that I haven’t had time to sort. 

Describe your experience as principal of WP in one word.

I can’t do it.  Every day is different and every day was Exciting – Rewarding – Loving

How have you seen WP change over the four years?

I’ve been the principal of West Potomac for five years.  I’ve seen it move from a school in crisis toward a more caring and respectful community.  My first year here there were fights between big, rude, and angry kids in the building, even some parents and some gang intimidation.  Teachers and students told me that they were afraid in the halls.  There are still problems that come to us every day, but people now realize that this is a safe learning environment and we are determined to keep it that way.  We have very many outstanding teachers and students.  The community feels welcomed in the school. 

What do you feel your biggest mistake as principal was, if any?

I should have pushed a little harder to make sure that the teachers moved more quickly and aggressively into Professional Learning Communities.  Some departments moved more easily into those patterns than others.  Some departments are still not able to take full advantage of such collaboration.

What is the funniest/craziest thing that has happened at WP in your opinion?

One of my favorite funny stories that I tell over and over again happened within the first couple of weeks that I was principal.  I was upstairs in Quander just as the bell rang for class to begin.  The hall cleared almost immediately except for two very tall boys who were standing in front of an open locker next to a classroom.  As I walked closer to them I said, “Come on, guys, get to class.”   One of the boys immediately responded, “OK, our class is right here,” and he closed the locker as I passed them.   I listened as I walked down the hall to see if I heard the classroom door open and close.  I heard the second boy say, “Who’s that?”  The first boy responded, “That’s the principal.”  “Principal of what?”  “She’s the principal of the whole school.”  There was a moment’s pause and the second boy said, “She can’t be the principal of the whole school.  She’s too short.”The classroom door opened and closed and they were gone.  I laughed all the way down to my office.

What advice would you give the new principal?

What a lot of expertise there is in this school and this community!!  Work hard.  Listen actively and openly to everyone in the community.  And most of all, love your students and staff!!  They’re an amazing group of people and together you can accomplish wondrous things!!

How do you want to be remembered?

With kudos and love for a job well done.