Date:  October 10, 2001
Contact: Irene Cromer
(703) 791-8720

 Three Prince William County Public Schools principals have been nominated by their school communities for the Distinguished Educational Leadership Award.  This award, which is sponsored by the Washington Post Educational Foundation, recognizes an outstanding principal from each of the metropolitan area school districts.  The Prince William County nominees will be honored by the School Board at a reception on October 24.  The Washington Post will announce the winner in mid-November.

 The principals nominated are Edward Doyle, New Dominion Alternative School; 
Jo Fitzgerald, Lake Ridge Middle School; and Barry Rosenberg, Swans Creek Elementary School.

Edward Doyle
New Dominion Alternative School

 Edward Doyle has been principal of New Dominion since 1991.  New Dominion is an alternative school that admits academically challenged students and children with serious disciplinary problems.  New Dominion bookkeeper Donna Rivers says in her nomination statement, “Dr. Doyle welcomes all students and truly believes New Dominion serves as a ‘new beginning’ for all who attend…He believes there is good in all children and is always concerned with [the] child’s sense of self worth.  He strives toward disciplinary action that will eliminate
the bad behavior without destroying the child.” 

 A former student believes his experience at New Dominion was life-changing.  
“If Dr. Doyle had not been at New Dominion, I would not be in high school today,” he says.  “Dr. Doyle is always a positive and sincere role model…He is a leader whose attitude is always ‘think like a champion, act like a champion, and become a champion.’”

 An effective fiscal manager, Doyle has encouraged staff to be “grant savvy educators.  As a result, his staff has brought in nearly $1,000,000 during his tenure,” say his nominators.
 “Dr. Doyle’s introduction of a student agenda book and parent call policy has made New Dominion one of the more ‘parent friendly’ schools in Prince William County,” says New Dominion administrator Dave Hoge.  “Teachers in all subjects and grades are required to write a message home for each student every day.  Parents are asked to read the agenda book, sign it and write their own questions and comments.  In addition, teachers at New Dominion call each student’s parents a minimum of once a week.  Parents leaving a message for a teacher in the morning are guaranteed a response that day.”

 Edward P. Doyle earned a D. Ed. from the University of Maryland.  He has taught English, science and social studies and served as a counselor and special education supervisor.  Doyle spent ten years as principal of Croom High School in Upper Marlboro, MD, which was selected by the University of Wisconsin as one of nine nationally acclaimed programs for its work with at-risk youth during his tenure.  He was previously nominated for this award in 1988. 

Jo C. Fitzgerald
Lake Ridge Middle School

Jo C. Fitzgerald has been principal of Lake Ridge Middle School since 1996.  She is 
described by her nominators as a role model and leader. “If leadership is a combination of strength, compassion, dedication, patience, joy, fortitude, generosity, peace, humor and, above all else, a pure devotion to the children then Jo Fitzgerald personifies leadership,” say her nominators.

 “Leadership may be an art, but it takes a special person to maintain a vision and a building,” says Assistant Principal Rhonda Early.  “Jo Fitzgerald orchestrates every aspect of not only the operation of the school, but also the personal relationships that bind a larger extended family together.  Her presence takes on a life of its own in the building to the degree that when she is not in the building, the children feel their rock is missing.”

 “As an instructional leader, Mrs. Fitzgerald is unparalleled,” Early says.  “She holds high expectations for the teachers and provides them with the materials and resources they need to deliver quality, state of the art instruction….Most importantly, Mrs. Fitzgerald invites teachers to take risks.  Never threatened by those who wish to build their leadership skills, she encourages staff to share in decision-making when appropriate.”

 “Mrs. Fitzgerald leads by example,” says former PTSO President Martha Nelson.  “In the five years I served on the PTSO Board, Mrs. Fitzgerald never missed a board meeting or activities scheduled outside of school.  She was the first one to arrive at Skate Night and the last person to leave, always ensuring that every child got home safely.”

 Jo C. Fitzgerald earned a bachelor’s degree from Shepherd College in West Virginia and a master’s degree from George Mason University.  She came to Prince William County Schools 
in 1984 as a health and P.E. teacher at Woodbridge Middle School.  In August 1989, she was appointed assistant principal at Stonewall Middle School, moving to Marsteller Middle School in 1994.  

Barry Rosenberg
Swans Creek Elementary School

 Barry Rosenberg, principal of the brand-new Swans Creek Elementary School, is recognized by many for his innovative approach to education.  

“Barry is highly focused on instruction and knowledgeable about current trends,” notes Area I Associate Superintendent Alison Nourse-Miller.  “For example, he was one of the first principals in Prince William County to fully embrace the use of Reading Recovery techniques in the regular classroom setting.”

 “We all know that teachers are full of ideas,” says Barbara Gerary.  “I know that Barry will meet my ideas with gratitude and respect.  If they can be put into place, they will be.  He secured buses for an after-school girl’s basketball club that a colleague and I were very excited to begin.  When my team went to him with our thoughts on student workshops for the science fair, he made them a reality.”

 “Mr. Rosenberg researched and implemented a math program for the third grade, which was developed at the University of Virginia,” say two of his former teachers.  “This innovative program improved students’ knowledge and understanding of math concepts using manipulative and cooperative learning as well as small ability grouped skill instruction that improved math skills.  This principal had the insight years ago to provide staff development in the “Writing 
Process” as well as “Comprehensive Strategies for Reading Across the Curriculum.”

 A graduate of Keene State College in Keene, N.H., Rosenberg earned a M.Ed. in administration and supervision from the University of Virginia.  He came to Prince William County in 1986 as principal of Gainesville Elementary School, which has since closed, moving to Enterprise Elementary in 1991.  When Swans Creek opened in the fall of 2001, he was appointed as its first principal.  Earlier he had been an assistant principal in King George, Virginia, and a student services administrator and lecturer in education at the University of Virginia College at Wise.

 “Even though I am now in middle school,” says a former student, “I realize how hard he works to help kids.  It makes me smile when I think about his jokes.  I’m glad Mr. Rosenberg was my principal and I miss him very much.”