Alexandria City Public Schools

Home » News Releases » 2010-2011 » August 30, 2010

Message to John Adams Community

Dear John Adams Elementary School Staff and Community:

As we look forward to this coming school year, several important leadership changes will support both key division-level initiatives and John Adams' continued work towards meeting the needs of all students.

Mary Gibson will be coming to central office to work directly with Deputy Superintendent Cathy David on implementation of our very important Student Individualized Achievement Plans (IAPs) and other critical initiatives. Starting Monday, August 30, Grace Taylor will serve as interim principal. Ms. Taylor has been principal of George Washington Middle School and of Minnie Howard, and is now a Principal At Large, working on AVID and other programs. She is an Alexandria native and graduate of T.C. Williams.

Mr. Gene May will start on September 7 as the new principal at John Adams. Mr. May is presently principal at Troutman Elementary School in the Iredell-Statesville, North Carolina, School District. This school district won the national Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award two years ago. We are pleased to be able to bring such an experienced and successful principal to John Adams.

Kathy Keenoy has accepted a position as French teacher at Francis C. Hammond Middle School. Until an upper elementary assistant principal is hired, Mr. Karl Smith will serve as administrative support in this position. He will join Grace Taylor on Monday and will stay until a full permanent leadership team is established. Mr. Smith served as assistant principal at John Adams before becoming the principal of Matthew Maury and later William Ramsay Elementary. He is respected throughout our city as a caring and dedicated administrator.

This year we added a second assistant principal at John Adams. Ms. Andreia Searcy is the new Early Childhood Assistant Principal. She comes from Prince George's County, where she was an instructional specialist with extensive experience in curriculum and instruction, technology, early childhood education, and reading. We are pleased to welcome Ms. Searcy, who has already started in her new position at John Adams.

I am sure that if you have been near John Adams this summer, that you saw some exciting construction going on. We believe we are just about ready to go with the new kindergarten wing (great new rooms!) and the Early Childhood Center. You might want to take a look at the new play area. We are looking forward to having you tour the improved and modernized areas of the building.

As we begin this school year, we are also eager to continue our support of CETA, the arts partnership with the Kennedy Center. Another elementary school will soon be announcing that it will also be joining CETA, giving John Adams a partner with whom to work on CETA.

Our strong commitment to assuring the success of each and every student at John Adams will build on the excellent foundation established by Principal Mary Gibson. We thank her for her service and appreciate her willingness to help us at central office in this very important new role.

Wishing all of you the very best.

Morton Sherman, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

[back to top]

DID YOU KNOW?

Research shows that one of the most important influences in a child's life is a caring and committed adult. Learn more »