Q & A with Northwood High School Principal: Henry R. Johnson

As another school year is upon us, Patch sat down with four Wheaton-area high school principals to find out what they did during their summer vacations and their outlooks on the 2011-12 school year.


Patch: What was the most fun thing you did on your summer vacation?

Principal Henry Johnson: I travel to my favorite spot in the Dominican Republic every year for rest and relaxation. Cabarete, Dominican Republic, is a wonderful and peaceful town where the people are friendly and welcoming. It also gives me an opportunity to brush up on my Spanish, since over 40% of my student population is Latino.

 
Patch: What is the most challenging thing about the start of a new school year?

H.J: The greatest challenge for us was getting all of our teachers and staff hired. We have almost 30 professional and supporting services staff that are new to Northwood. I am pleased that we found outstanding staff members who will make a difference in the lives of our student and become part of a strong community we established over the years here at Northwood.

Patch: How do you see the county budget cuts affecting Northwood High School?

H.J:  I don’t see much of a change in our instructional program as a result of budget cuts. Montgomery County does a great job of supporting schools and their programs. Coming from another school district in Virginia prior to the nine years that I have been here, I am pleased to say that I am happy with the support I receive as a principal.

Patch: What single event are you most looking forward to during the 2011-2012 school year?

H.J: I realize that it is early, but I always look forward to graduation. It is such an exciting time for our community. It is the culmination of academic success for our students, and my hope is that we prepared them for their future lives. As they walk across that stage and receive their diplomas, it makes all of us proud because we have done this TOGETHER as a school community.

Patch: Please share one new thing about your school for this year.

H.J: I am excited about the revival of our internship program at Northwood under the direction of Mrs. Cynthia Gill, our new internship coordinator. Our students need opportunities to learn skills about the world of work and how to prepare themselves for life beyond Northwood. Mrs. Gill is an excellent teacher, mentor and support resource in the community, and I know that this program will make a HUGE difference for our school, our students and our community.