Principal LaChon Winston sees her school, Waldon Woods Elementary, as a stage and herself a featured performer.
‘‘As an educator you have to be an actress,” she says. ‘‘You have to leave your problems at home because even on your worst day somebody is going to need your help.”
This philosophy has followed her through her career as a teacher and school administrator.
‘‘I chose Waldon Woods,” said Winston, the first female principal in the Clinton school’s history. ‘‘I felt the need to pick up and carry on the legacy from the past principals. It’s an honor and a privilege.”
Winston, who was previously the acting principal at Rosaryville Elementary and also a regional instruction specialist for Region 4, has come armed with a plan to carry on that legacy. She said that she wants to implement what she calls the ‘‘Triple A Team”.
‘‘Attendance. Attitude. Achievement,” she said. ‘‘That’s the 2007-2008 motto.”
Richard E. Mosby, principal at Potomac Landing Elementary School in Fort Washington brought Winston with him when he moved from the District to Prince George’s County Public Schools.
‘‘Her strong suit is in instruction,” Mosby said. ‘‘She will do very well working with teachers.”
Mosby said that Winston was an excellent teacher that always kept students well motivated when they worked together in the District and at Potomac Landing.
Winston also believes that the cornerstone of a good educational experience for children is having the parents involved in student life.
‘‘Our parental involvement will be second to none,” she said. ‘‘All our children will be successful.”
To achieve this, Winston will be giving parents a report card with criteria including how often they sign their children’s homework papers and attendance of field trips.
Winston will not be the only new administrator at Waldon Woods. Traci Nickens, who was the assistant principal at Stephen Decatur Middle School in Clinton, has joined Winston.
‘‘She is my right hand,” Winston said.
Nickens said that she left Stephen Decatur Middle School because she missed interacting with elementary school children. The position is also a homecoming for Nickens, as she attended Waldon Woods as a child.
Winston and Nickens both said that as a team they would make learning their number one priority. Winston said that tests are important, but that learning comes first.
‘‘We can overcome statistics,” Winston said. ‘‘It’s important young people know that education opens doors.”
E-mail Ryan McDermott at rmcdermott@gazette.net.
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