More Challenges for Drew Elementary Following Principal’s Resignation

Drew Model Elementary School Principal Darryl Evans has resigned, citing family reasons and a desire to seek a job closer to home.

Evans led Drew Model for one year after coming to the school in the summer of 2014 after former principal Jacqueline Smith retired following a driving-under-the-influence arrest.

“I spoke with Mr. Evans yesterday and I hope you will join me in wishing him well in his next endeavors, both personally and professionally,” Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Patrick Murphy wrote in a note to Drew Model families (below, after the jump).

APS has not yet released a plan for hiring a new principal, Murphy said. For the time being, APS staff will work with assistant principals Catharina Genove and Wendy Pilch to help the school get ready for the next school year while a new principal is sought. School is back in session on Sept. 8.

“We will continue to work together to ensure that Drew provides an excellent instructional program for our students,” Murphy said in the statement.

Drew Model serves the Nauck area and has about 502 students in kindergarten through fifth grade — 642 including pre-Kindergarten programs — with more than half requiring free or reduced meals.

Evans’ resignation is the latest challenge facing the school, which has been plagued with financial and testing troubles.

Last May, the school’s PTA held its first Spring Fair in order to close a $22,000 funding gap. Last year, the school struggled with test scores, ARLnow.com reported. In 2014, the school was performing at an average of 23 percent lower than the county average on third through fifth grade Standard of Learning Exams.

APS did not have any information on how Evans’ departure will affect the school at this time.

The full letter from Superintendent Murphy:

Dear Drew Families:

I hope all of you are enjoying your summer and finding time to relax and rejuvenate. Today I am reaching out to members of the Drew community to share that Darryl Evans contacted me yesterday to let us know that he is resigning as Principal of Drew Model School for family reasons and to pursue another professional opportunity that is closer to his home in Maryland. I spoke with Mr. Evans yesterday and I hope you will join me in wishing him well in his next endeavors, both personally and professionally.

I also want to assure the Drew families, students, staff and community that Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Connie Skelton and her staff, along with our full administrative team, will be working closely with Catharina Genove and Wendy Pilch in the coming weeks to assist them during this transition and to support the school as we prepare for next year. We will continue to work together to ensure that Drew provides an excellent instructional program for our students.

Once we have developed our plan of how we are moving forward, we will share that process with you and let you know how you can participate. In the meantime, if you have any questions, I encourage you to contact Ms. Genove or Ms. Pilch at the school.

Please enjoy the rest of the summer. We look forward to welcoming you back to begin a new year of learning and growing together in September.
Sincerely,

Patrick K. Murphy, Ed.D.
Superintendent

Photo courtesy APS