Schools
New Ridgeview Middle School Principal Meets With PSTA
Monifa McKnight and Ridgeview Parents attended a meet-and-greet event for the new administrator on Monday.
Newly appointed principal of , , met with members of the Ridgeview Parent-Teacher-Student Association on Monday night.
“At some point, we were all middle school people,” she told the parents, “The kids have to know that all the people in the school want them to do well.”
Around 30 parents and some students attended the informal meeting in the media center and shared refreshments with McKnight, Community Superintendent, LaVerne Kimball, and School Performance Director, Elizabeth Strubel.
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One parent asked a question regarding her leadership style. McKight replied that she is a hands-on administrator.
“You'll see me out in front of the school, greeting the kids every morning. I will be in the halls and in the classrooms,” she replied. “I want kids to be able to come up to me. We will also have student focus groups, to find out what is working and what is not working.”
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Another parent asked if she had made contact with other administrators in the school cluster. McKnight said that she has been exchanging emails with some of the feeder school's administration and that Principal, Carol Working, has already reached out to her, personally, via email. She said she looks forward to working with her.
McKnight has worked in education for the last 12 years, which included 10 years at the middle school level in Parkland and Tilden Middle Schools. During those years, she completed the Principal training process that is part of the Montgomery County School District's process. The training includes years as a “Principal Intern” where the trainee works alongside an active principal.
She was chosen for the position after an intensive hiring process in which staff, administration and the community were . She, along with three other applicants, were interviewed by a panel of almost 20 school community members. The board of education announced her appointment at their May 23, 2011 meeting.
“She was just wonderful at the interview,” said parent Debbie Randall, who was part of the interviewing panel. “You could tell she really loves middle school kids.”
At that time, a letter was sent home to parents in which McKnight wrote, “As principal, I intend to focus on effective communications, maintaining and nurturing a positive school climate, and making sure that our students are rising to the high expectations that we set for them.”
McKnight's tenure at the school will officially begin on July 1, 2011.