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 2021-2022 school year;
Blended Virtual Program, Kathleen Krietz and Frank Vetter. Ms. Krietz will transfer to this new co-principal position from Sabillasville Elementary, where she served as principal since 2013. Prior to that, she was principal at Thurmont Elementary. Krietz also served as assistant principal at both Thurmont Primary and Spring Ridge Elementary. She was a guidance counselor at Carroll Manor and Valley Elementary schools. She taught at Emmitsburg Elementary. Krietz earned her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Saint Mary’s College in Leavenworth, Kansas, and Master of Science degree in school guidance and educational leadership from McDaniel College.
Mr. Vetter will transfer as co-principal from Walkersville Middle, where he was principal since 2018. He has also been principal at West Frederick Middle, Middletown Middle, Urbana Middle and Heather Ridge School. Vetter also served as assistant principal at Heather Ridge. He has taught at Ballenger Creek Middle. He is currently an adjunct at Mount Saint Mary’s University and has taught at Hood College. Vetter earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education from the University of Maryland and Master of Science degree in Education/School Administration from Johns Hopkins University.
Brunswick Elementary, Kimberly Mazaleski. Dr. Mazaleski will transfer from Tuscarora Elementary where she served as principal since 2016. She has also worked as assistant principal at Centerville Elementary, served as a curriculum specialist at Tuscarora Elementary and the FCPS central office, worked as a teacher specialist at Orchard Grove Elementary and Middletown Elementary. She was also a teacher at Spring Ridge Elementary, North Frederick Elementary, Ballenger Creek Middle and Walkersville Elementary. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Education from Towson State University and Master of Science degree in Special Education from Western Maryland College (McDaniel College). She also has a Doctor of Education degree from Walden University. Current Principal Justin McConnaughey will transfer to Hillcrest Elementary.
Hillcrest Elementary, Justin McConnaughey. Mr. McConnaughey will transfer from Brunswick Elementary where he was principal. He has also served as assistant principal at both Spring Ridge Elementary and Walkersville Elementary. He began his career as a teacher at Parkway Elementary. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education from Shepherd College and a Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Hood College. Current Principal Karl Williams will transfer to Thurmont Elementary.
Sabillasville Elementary, John Veronie. Mr. Veronie is promoted to acting principal from Carroll Manor Elementary where he served as assistant principal. He was also assistant principal at Tuscarora Elementary, Waverley Elementary, Urbana Elementary and Lincoln Elementary. Mr. Veronie was a teacher specialist at North Frederick Elementary and Whittier Elementary and he was a teacher at Oakdale Elementary and Brunswick Elementary. Mr. Veronie received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in 2001 and a Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership from Hood College. Current Principal Kathleen Krietz will transfer to the new FCPS Blended Virtual program.
Sugarloaf Elementary, Carmen Working. Ms. Working is promoted from Spring Ridge Elementary where she has been assistant principal since 2018. She also served as an FCPS supervisor and coordinator in Special Education, as a teacher specialist (Central Office), as a teacher specialist at New Market Middle and as a teacher at Oakdale Middle. Ms. Working received a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education from Elon University in 2002 and a Master of Education degree from Goucher College in 2006. Current Principal Tess Blumenthal is retiring.
Thurmont Elementary, Karl Williams. Mr. Williams will transfer from Hillcrest Elementary where he served as principal since 2016. He has also been principal at Brunswick Elementary, assistant principal at North Frederick Elementary and Twin Ridge Elementary. Mr. Williams served as an FCPS teacher specialist and as a teacher at Lincoln Elementary, Walkersville Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary and North Frederick Elementary. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Lebanon Valley College and a Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership from Hood College. Current Principal Debra O’Donnell is retiring.
Tuscarora Elementary, Carrie Zimmerman. Ms. Zimmerman will transfer from Greenwood Elementary, in Montgomery County, where she was principal. She also served as an assistant principal and teacher in schools in Montgomery County and as the Science, Technology and Engineering Instructional Specialist for Montgomery County Public Schools’ Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Ms. Zimmerman received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Elon University in 2000 and a Master of Science degree from Bowie State University in 2006. Current Principal Dr. Kimberly Mazaleski is transferring to Brunswick Elementary.
Walkersville Middle, Elizabeth Ann Miller. Ms. Miller is promoted from Ballenger Creek Middle where she was assistant principal. She has also served as assistant principal at Gov. Thomas Johnson Middle, as an FCPS coordinator of Special Education and as a teacher at Middletown Middle, Monocacy Middle and West Frederick Middle. Ms. Miller received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education in 1997 from Mount Saint Mary’s College and a Master of Education degree in Reading Education in 2007 from Mount Saint Mary’s University. Current Principal Frank Vetter is transferring to the new FCPS Blended Virtual program.
Yellow Springs Elementary, Hannah Feldman. Ms. Feldman is promoted from Green Valley Elementary where she served as assistant principal. She was also assistant principal at Spring Ridge Elementary and Centerville Elementary. Ms. Feldman taught at Monocacy Elementary, Centerville Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Kemptown Elementary and Orchard Grove Elementary. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from James Madison University in 2002 and a Master of Arts in Education degree from Johns Hopkins University in 2005. Current Principal Sue Gullo is retiring.
***The following schools will have new assistant principals, effective July 1:
Ballenger Creek Middle, Susan Messmore is transferring from Baltimore County and Matthew McVay is promoted from teacher at Monocacy Middle.
Blue Heron Elementary, Brian Kilduff is transferring from Oakdale Elementary.
Carroll Manor Elementary, Marc Clausen is transferring from Sugarloaf Elementary.
Glade Elementary, Valerie Powell is promoted from acting assistant principal.
Gov. Thomas Johnson Middle, Jo Ann Branham is transferring from Windsor Knolls Middle.
Heather Ridge School, Todd McCarty is promoted from New Market Middle, where he was a teacher.
Green Valley Elementary, Caitlin Ward is transferring from a school in Washington State.
Middletown Elementary, Laura Davidson is transferring from coordinator of specialized programs in the Special Education Department.
Monocacy Middle, Amanda Furajter is promoted from pupil personnel worker in the Student Services Department.
New Market Middle, Donald Reed is transferring from West Frederick Middle.
Oakdale Elementary, Heather Putnam is transferring from Glade Elementary.
Spring Ridge Elementary, Heather Macauley is promoted from teacher specialist in the Student Services Department, and Susan Copen is promoted from literacy specialist at Glade Elementary.
Sugarloaf Elementary, Ellen Hanner is transferring from Oakdale Elementary.
Walkersville Elementary, Courtney Hrobak is promoted from teacher specialist at North Frederick Elementary.
West Frederick Middle, Sean Henline is transferring from New Market Middle.
Windsor Knolls Middle, Joseph Hinson is transferring from Gov. Thomas Johnson Middle.