Principals Departing from Gaithersburg, Quince Orchard High Schools
Carole Working and Christine Handy
Two high school principals in Gaithersburg are leaving.
Quince Orchard High School Principal Carole Working is retiring and moving to Italy.
Christine Handy has been elected president of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, in Reston, Va.
Handy, in a letter to the Gaithersburg Mayor and Council, said she was taking a leave of absence.
“This decision is bittersweet as I am sad to be leaving, yet excited about the opportunity that lies ahead,” Handy wrote.
And although she describes her departure as a leave of absence, she wrote she will “no longer” be Gaithersburg High’s principal.
Montgomery County Public Schools spokesman Derek Turner described Handy’s departure as a sabbatical.
“It’s an amazing week,” Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman said of learning of the two principals’ departures.
About Handy, he said: “It’s hard to think of someone who’s a better exemplar of professionalism and also caring out her school and her community. She’s been a terrific community partner.”
About Working, Ashman said she balanced academics, culture and athletics.
“If you asked anybody in the Quince Orchard community what they think of that school, there’s just love,” he said.
MCPSS shouldn’t be allowing gov’t employees to “leave” and allow time to accrue towards pensions and other benefits. She needs to resign if she’s not working and stop gaming the system. Taxpayers deserve better!
Everyone knows MCPS is all about resume padding. No one is actually committed to teaching and nurturing kids. Everyone is looking for their next job.
Good riddance to Carol Working.