Frederick County Public Schools announces several principal and assistant principal appointments, effective July 1. Personnel appointments remain subject to change based on the evolving needs of the school system.
The following school principal appointments will take effect for the 2020-2021 school year:
Ballenger Creek Elementary, Megan Stein. Ms. Stein will transfer from Wolfsville Elementary. She has also worked as assistant principal at Oakdale Elementary and Yellow Springs Elementary and taught at Monocacy Elementary, Orchard Grove Elementary and Thurmont Primary. She earned her Bachelor of Art degree in communications and rhetoric from the University of Pittsburgh in 2005 and Master of Science degree in educational leadership from Hood College in 2012. Current Principal Kristen Canning is promoted to director of School Administration and Instructional Leadership.
Blue Heron Elementary, Amy Schwiegerath. Ms. Schwiegerath is transferring from Whittier Elementary to serve as planning principal for this school, slated to open for the 2021-2022 school year. She has also worked as principal at Lewistown Elementary, assistant principal at Ballenger Creek Elementary and taught at Oakdale Elementary, Orchard Grove Elementary and South Frederick Elementary. She received her bachelor’s degree from Towson University in 1993 and her master’s degree from Hood College in 1997.
Emmitsburg Elementary, Amber Madigan. Ms. Madigan is promoted from assistant principal at Hillcrest Elementary. She has also worked as assistant principal at Yellow Springs Elementary, 3rd grade teacher at Twin Ridge Elementary and has taught in Washington County Public Schools. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education in 2003 from Shippensburg University and Master of Education degree in 2010 from Wilson College. Current Principal Mary Ann Wiles is retiring.
Glade Elementary, Stephen Raff. Mr. Raff is transferring from director of School Administration and Instructional Leadership. He has also worked as principal at Centerville Elementary and Tuscarora Elementary, assistant principal at Centerville and Whittier Elementary, and taught at Oakdale Elementary and Twin Ridge Elementary. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in theater at Shepherd University in 1993 and master’s degree in teaching from Towson University in 1996, as well as the FCPS 2013 Distinguished Educational Leadership Award. Current Principal Lorcan OhEithir is transferring to Whittier Elementary.
Governor Thomas Johnson High, Tracey Kibler. Ms. Kibler is transferring from Walkersville High. She has also worked as assistant principal at Oakdale High, special education teacher at Thurmont Middle and Catoctin High, math teacher at Catoctin High and was math intervention specialist at Governor Thomas Johnson High. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in special education from East Carolina University in 1998 and her Master of Science degree in educational leadership from Hood College in 2010. Current Principal Dr. Dan Lippy is promoted to director of School Management.
Lewistown Elementary, Belinda Fockler. Ms. Fockler is promoted from assistant principal at Tuscarora Elementary. She has also worked as assistant principal at Lewistown Elementary and has taught at Brunswick Elementary and Hillcrest Elementary as well as in Germany. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood education in 1997 and Master of Science degree with reading specialization in 2006, both at Hood College. Current Principal Dana Austin is transferring to Myersville Elementary.
Linganore High, Cynthia Hanlon. Ms. Hanlon is promoted from assistant principal at Tuscarora High. She has also worked as assistant principal at Urbana High and taught at Oakdale High, Middletown High, Urbana High and in Montgomery County. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish from Rutgers University in 1994 and Master of Science degree in curriculum and instruction from McDaniel College in 2005. Current Principal Nancy Doll is retiring.
Monocacy Middle, Reginald Gunter. Mr. Gunter is promoted from assistant principal at Monocacy Middle. He has also taught social studies at Governor Thomas Johnson Middle and worked as student support teacher and then school counselor there. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education from the University of Maryland in 1997 and master’s degree in school counseling from McDaniel College in 2008. Current Principal Dr. Stephanie Ware is transferring to Walkersville High.
Myersville Elementary, Dana Austin. Ms. Austin is transferring from Lewistown Elementary. She has also worked as assistant principal at Lewistown Elementary, school support teacher at Middletown Primary, school counselor at Valley Elementary, and taught at Myersville Elementary. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education at Towson State University in 1995 and Master of Science degree in counselor education at McDaniel College in 2000. Katherine Swire is transferring to assistant principal at Yellow Springs Elementary.
Oakdale Middle, Daniel Enck. Mr. Enck is transferring from Thurmont Middle. He has also worked as assistant principal at Monocacy Middle and Thurmont Middle, taught at Gov. Thomas Johnson Middle and Linganore High, and was student support teacher at New Market Middle. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history education from Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, in 2007 and master’s degree in educational leadership from Hood College in 2011. Current Principal Mita Badshah is retiring.
Thurmont Middle, Janine Smith. Ms. Smith is promoted from assistant principal at Thurmont Middle. She has also worked as assistant principal at Windsor Knolls Middle, taught language arts at Walkersville Middle, and taught language arts and social studies at Oakdale Middle. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from the University of Pittsburgh in 2000 and Master of Education degree in educational leadership from Hood College in 2012. Daniel Enck is transferring to Oakdale Middle.
Urbana Middle, Andrew Kibler. Mr. Kibler is promoted from assistant principal at Brunswick Middle. He has also worked as principal at Tuscarora High, assistant principal at Governor Thomas Johnson High and Frederick High, and taught in New York, Prince George’s County and Howard County. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Canisius College in 1995 and Master of Science degree in educational leadership from McDaniel College in 2005. Current Principal Stacey Hiltner is retiring.
Walkersville High, Dr. Stephanie Ware. Dr. Ware is promoted from principal at Monocacy Middle. She has also worked as principal at Oakdale Middle, assistant principal at Brunswick High and Frederick High and taught at Middletown High and Urbana Middle. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and secondary education from McDaniel College in 2002, her Master of Education degree in educational leadership from Hood College in 2007 and her Doctorate of Education in administrative leadership for teaching and learning from Walden University in 2014. Current Principal Tracey Kibler is transferring to Governor Thomas Johnson High.
Whittier Elementary, Lorcan OhEithir. Mr. OhEithir is transferring from Glade Elementary. He has also worked as assistant principal at Centerville Elementary and Whittier Elementary and has taught at Deer Crossing Elementary and Orchard Grove Elementary. He earned his Bachelor of Education degree from St. Patrick’s College, Dublin City University, in 1993 and completed the Master of Science Literacy Education Program at the University of Southern Maine in 2003. Current Principal Amy Schwiegerath is transferring to serve as planning principal for the new Blue Heron Elementary.
Wolfsville Elementary, Linda Stuart. Ms. Stuart is promoted from assistant principal at Brunswick Elementary. She has also worked as assistant principal at Glade Elementary, literacy specialist at Deer Crossing Elementary and New Market Elementary, taught at Carroll Manor Elementary and Kemptown Elementary, and worked as teacher mentor, teacher specialist and professional learning coordinator. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and communicative disorders from the University of Rhode Island in 1985, a Master of Arts degree in elementary education from the University of Rhode Island in 1987 and Master of Science degree with reading specialization from Western Maryland (McDaniel) College in 1994. Current Principal Megan Stein is transferring to Ballenger Creek Elementary.
The following 26 schools will have different assistant principals, effective July 1:
Ballenger Creek Middle, Eric Bokinsky is transferring from Crestwood Middle.
Brunswick Elementary, Melissa Burton is promoted from special education teacher.
Brunswick Middle, Judith Hale is transferring from Monocacy Middle.
Butterfly Ridge Elementary, Jill Barnes is promoted from literacy specialist at Valley Elementary.
Frederick High, Dr. Danny Rumpf is transferring from Middletown High, and Rebecca Hackett is transferring from Urbana High.
Govenor Thomas Johnson High, Lindsey Baker is transferring from Oakdale High, and Kenneth Trotman is new to FCPS.
Hillcrest Elementary, Melissa Desmond is promoted from special education coordinator.
Linganore High, Aaron Phillips is transferring from Frederick High.
Middletown High, Eric Schwarzenegger is new to FCPS.
Middletown Middle, Brenda Whipp is transferring from Oakdale Middle.
Monocacy Elementary, Andrea Roche is new to FCPS.
Monocacy Middle, Jill Cameron is promoted from acting assistant principal at Urbana Middle, and Amy Newkirk is promoted from literacy specialist at Brunswick Middle.
Oakdale Elementary, Brian Kilduff is transferring from Centerville Elementary.
Oakdale Middle, Brianna Zeoli is transferring from West Frederick Middle.
Oakdale High, Cindy Johnson is transferring from Governor Thomas Johnson High.
Rock Creek, Amanda Keilholtz is promoted from special education coordinator.
Tuscarora Elementary, Dr. John Ewald is transferring from Valley Elementary, and Susan Verdi is promoted from literacy specialist.
Tuscarora High, Andrew McWilliams is transferring from Linganore High.
Urbana Elementary, Lisa Wrzesinski is transferring from Butterfly Ridge Elementary.
Urbana High, Chaitanya Chary is new to FCPS.
Urbana Middle, Tricia Brdecka is transferring from Ballenger Creek Middle.
Valley Elementary, Kelly McConville is transferring from Middletown Elementary.
Walkersville High, William Caulfield is transferring from Governor Thomas Johnson High.
West Frederick Middle, Michelle Gill is transferring from Middletown Middle.
Whittier Elementary, Courtney Hicks is promoted from acting assistant principal at Middletown Primary.
Yellow Springs Elementary, Katherine Swire is transferring from principal at Myersville Elementary.