U.S. Department of Education Officials to Visit Nearly 40 Schools to Learn from School Principals

Education Department Partners with the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the National Association of Secondary School Principals and New Leaders for New Schools to Shadow Principals on the Job

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Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov


Deb Delisle, assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education, and Brenda Dann-Messier, assistant secretary for vocational and adult education, visited schools in the Washington, D.C., metro area today to learn from exemplary school principals as they exercise their role as instructional leaders and manage the day-to-day operation of their schools. Delisle joined Principal Lisa Piehota at Patrick Henry Elementary School in Arlington, Va., and Dann-Messier was paired with Principal Edgar Batenga at Northwestern Senior High School in Hyattsville, Md.

"Great school leaders are key to students receiving a high-quality education and teachers feeling supported and empowered in their work," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "Outstanding principals build school cultures focused on learning and high expectations, where all students can reach their full potential. Every great school has a great leader.”

In addition to the visits to these schools, dozens of Education Department staff members are visiting schools today, tomorrow and Thursday throughout the D.C. area and other parts of the country as part of an organized effort in which federal education officials are shadowing school leaders. As a key component of National Principals’ Month, these shadowing visits will offer Department staff a glimpse into the daily work of school leaders, while also providing principals with the opportunity to discuss how federal policy, programs, and resources impact their schools.

Tomorrow, U.S. Department of Education Chief of Staff Joanne Weiss will lead the job shadowing effort by visiting Columbia Heights Educational Campus in Washington, D.C., and joining Principal Maria Tukeva. In addition, Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement Jim Shelton will shadow David Pinder, principal at Washington’s McKinley Technology High School. To complete the week-long partnership effort, on Friday, Oct. 12, principals and Department staff members participating in the job shadowing engagements will join U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for a debrief discussion to reflect on their experiences and lessons learned.

From Tuesday, Oct. 9, through Thursday, Oct. 11, shadowing visits will take place in nearly 40 schools. A list of participating schools follows:

Northwestern Senior High School in Hyattsville, Md.
Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in Washington, D.C.
Woodbridge Middle School in Woodbridge, Va.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va.
Gaithersburg High School in Gaithersburg, Md.
Schools Without Walls Senior High School in Washington, D.C.
Northwood High School in Silver Spring, Md.
Wheaton High School in Silver Spring, Md.
Westland Middle School in Bethesda, Md.
Columbia Heights Educational Campus in Washington, D.C.
Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Md.
Mater Academy in Miami, Fla.
SEED Charter School in Washington, D.C.
Newport Mill Middle School in Silver Spring, Md.
Pyle Middle School in Bethesda, Md.
Hilltop Elementary School in Anne Arundel, Md.
Little Run Elementary School in Fairfax, Va.
Dundalk Elementary School in Baltimore, Md.
Patrick Henry Elementary School in Arlington, Va.
Beacon Heights Elementary School in Prince George’s County, Md.
Overlook Elementary School in Prince George’s County, Md.
Aldrin Elementary School in Reston, Va.
Olde Creek Elementary School in Fairfax, Va.
Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School in Washington, D.C.
Kimball Elementary School in Washington, D.C.
Davis Elementary School in Washington, D.C.
Murch Elementary School in Washington, D.C.
Washington Middle School for Girls in Washington, D.C.
Aidan Montessori School in Washington, D.C.
McKinley Technology High School in Washington, D.C.
Anacostia High School in Washington, D.C.
Friendship Public Charter School in Washington, D.C.
DC Bilingual Public Charter School in Washington, D.C.
Powell Elementary School in Washington, D.C.
Kramer Middle School in Washington, D.C.

For more information, please see www.principalsmonth.org.


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