Greenbelt Middle School’s (GMS) beloved principal, Marcellus Clement, announced on Friday, July 10 that he will leave the school after leading it for five years. Clement said he had been given an “expanded opportunity” as a leader within Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS).
New PGCPS Role
“As committed educators, we often must extend our service to all those who build our learning communities, not just those within a single school. Thus, it is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that I will no longer serve as Principal of Greenbelt Middle School,” wrote Clement in his letter to the community on July 10. “I have been given an expanded opportunity to continue in my role as an educational leader within Prince George’s County Public Schools. On this new journey, I will carry memories of all the lives and rich experiences that have made me so proud to serve the children and communities of this county.”
At an emergency Zoom meeting on Monday, July 13, Clement explained he has received a promotion and will be mentoring and coaching other principals in a new role, Jessica O’Roark, a Greenbelt parent who attended the meeting, told the News Review.
Principal Search
Current Assistant Principal Camille Butler is serving in the interim role while a search for a new principal is conducted, parents were told at the July 13 meeting. PGCPS’ Human Resources has already begun the process to fill the position, said a letter from Instructional Director for District 2 Danielle Moore.
A presentation reviewed by the News Review said the interview panel would include a human resources representative, area associate superintendent, school instructional director, four educators (including representation from the school’s faculty advisory committee), two support staff, two Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA) members and two community members. The presentation, which is linked from the school’s website asserts the goal is to fill the principal vacancy before the board meeting in June, a date already past. Parents who attended were not given a specific date but told the process was being expedited, said O’Roark.
Though the search is open to all candidates, “it was noted … it seems most likely that it will be an internal candidate, given the expedited nature of the search,” said O’Roark.
Brief Input Period
An interview panel that would include two parents was scheduled to convene Monday, July 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. At the meeting one week earlier, some parents expressed disappointment at the quick deadline, which they feared might prohibit parents from participating, particularly given the full day commitment.
In addition to volunteering to serve on an interview panel, parents, staff and community members were told they could share input by completing an online school leadership, skills and characteristics questionnaire. Parents we spoke with about the survey expressed confusion about when the survey would close, some believing it would be open for seven days following the special meeting on Monday but finding it closed after Friday, July 17. The results, which have already been shared, show it recorded only one parent participant.
One of the parents we spoke with, who asked we withhold their name because they are a PGCPS employee, said they had tried to access information on exactly who was serving on the hiring committee, but only received information about its general composition without names. They had hoped to reach out to the decision makers and offer their thoughts, they told the News Review, but “the only real option was the survey,” they concluded. They said they were unaware of the survey prior to the Monday meeting but were able to complete it before it closed.
Praise for Clement
As parents responded to the news of their principal’s departure, every one had praise for Clement and what he has done for the school.
The school was very lucky to have him as principal for five years, said parent Eric McKenzie, who is also the outgoing PTSA treasurer. “He was an enthusiastic partner with the community, showing up at every PTSA meeting to deliver his “Clement’s Corner” updates and to take questions from our families. He welcomed family members into the school with open houses so that they could see their children’s classes in action, and he supported school celebrations of African-American history, Hispanic heritage and international students. He was tireless in his drive to improve the school’s performance, and he updated families each year on the school’s state report cards. He had excellent people skills, and he was an extraordinarily responsive communicator, known for returning phone calls and emails in an hour or less,”
McKenzie told the News Review. “I’m sure that he’ll be welcomed in his next position and that he’ll be a terrific asset there.” McKenzie said he hopes GMS’ next principal will have “a similar ability to listen to the community, respond to their questions and keep them informed of school resources and opportunities.” McKenzie also wants the next principal to focus on rigorous instruction, improving student attendance and reducing downtime in classes, as well as creating “a caring work environment where staff are supported and uplifted.”
Another parent, whose name we are withholding at their request because they, too, are a PGCPS employee, feared Clement’s departure would be destabilizing for GMS. “I think many teachers are there because of Mr. Clement — he is well loved. And GMS definitely has a lot of needs,” they told the News Review. “I understand that a school’s leadership is made up of a team, not one single person. And yet having a strong leader as principal makes a huge impact on the team’s morale and effectiveness. It is a loss for GMS staff, students and families, especially with such a short timeframe to make the transition,” they said.
GMS Parent Lauren Rankel praised Clement’s communication and leadership. “Mr. Clement has been a devoted, enthusiastic leader of the GMS community. His promotion is so well deserved, and I’m thrilled he’ll be supporting and mentoring other principals in the county,” said Rankel. About the future, she said, “I am hopeful the search committee and the PGCPS leadership will select a new principal for us who will continue to communicate effectively with parents, motivate and encourage the GMS faculty and staff and will work as hard to know and champion the GMS students as Mr. Clement has during his tenure.”
“Principal Clement was a leader’s leader,” another parent, Brooke Kenny, told the News Review. “He was a tireless advocate for the students, staff and families of Greenbelt Middle School. He brought a breadth of skills and a depth of motivation to serve that will be difficult to replace.”