As Panelists Interview Aspiring Principals, School Officials Mum on Details

Montgomery County Public School officials had asked for public input on picking Neelsville Middle School’s new principal. But now, school officials are keeping a tight lid on information when it comes to choosing the next Neelsville Knight.

Chris Cram, a spokesman for Montgomery County Public Schools, said school officials could not reveal how many people had applied for the job or any other facets of interviews held today at the Carver Educational Services Center in Rockville.

An 18-member panel consisting of six parents, six school administrators and six employees from MCPS central office interviewed candidates for the position in a meeting that was closed to the public.

Dollye McClain, the former principal at Neelsville, left after her school went into restructuring planning, a process in which leaders at underperforming schools are required to reapply for their jobs. Performance is gauged by yearly exams and states set their own benchmarks under No Child Left Behind policies.

Neelsville Middle School has been operating under the leadership of two assistant principals since McClain’s departure in July.

After McClain’s departure, parents met with community superintendent Darryl Williams, director of school performance Kathy Brake and school improvement specialist Barbara Freelander to discuss transition and desirable characteristics they would like to see in the next principal.

The interviewing panelists will list top three candidates and make a recommendation to the board of education. Working with Superintendent Joshua Starr, the board will then make an appointment.

The new principal will be announced Monday, July 25, at a public meeting in Rockville.