New Principal Selected for Next Year
Stephen Howell
Special to The Wire
Current Thomas Jefferson High School administrator Cliff Hardison was selected to become our school’s new principal, following Rima Vesilind’s resignation on July 1, 2009.
The decision was announced in a letter to students and faculty on May 22. Hardison served as the Director of Student Services at our school from 1992-1997. “I left with a specific purpose of becoming a principal, to become a better leader,” Hardison said. The best part about our school is the open horse-shoe shaped campus that allows students to get fresh air, he said.
Hardison plans to follow some of Vesilind’s initiatives, such as improving Standards of Learning (SOL) scores, enrolling more minorities in Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes, and sending more graduating seniors to college. “My understanding of WP is that Mrs. Vesilind has done a wonderful job of building a nice, solid groundwork and platform. My goal is to continue that, build another rung,” he said. “Mrs. Vesilind has great hopes for WP, and I want to make sure we continue with those great hopes.”
A major component of Hardison’s policies will be ensuring that minority students are represented in advanced classes to avoid creating a school that is divided between students in different levels of classes. Also, the new principal will work to make sure every student is challenging. Hardison also believes every student should take four years of math. “[High School] is just one step in life. Education is a primary tool. I want kids to love learning…I want a safe environment where you get to explore social responsibility as well,” Hardison said.
The new principal will also listen to faculty and students on ways to improve our school. He plans to look into alternatives to the Flex period. “I’ve hard lots of mixed messages about Flex,” he said. “I want to make sure everyone is in agreement with what Flex means and its purpose is. It’s worth considering option.”
Hardison feels that teachers will adjust to the new 10-point grading scale and that colleges already identify the standards. “I do not care. An A is an A and a B is a B,” Hardison said.
On the issue of cell phone usage in school, he believes that if students are not allowed to use them, then neither should adults. “There’s nothing more annoying then faculty meetings with phones ringing off,” he said.
Hardison was born in Texas, however he was raised in Fairfax County, Virginia. “I’m a Fairfax County boy,” he proudly said. He went to West Springfield High School and participated in track, cross country, and Boy Scouts of America, where he earned the Eagle Scout rank. He then attended George Mason University and ran track. Later, Hardison earned a masters degree in consoling from Virginia Commonwealth University. Hardison plans to stay at our school for as long as he can. He said, “I’ll be here for awhile.”
