William Ramsay Elementary School Principal Search

The time has come to select the next principal for the William Ramsay Elementary School. We look forward to working with students, staff, families, students and the broader school community to find and retain the best candidate for this important position. Family and community involvement in this process is critical.

Job Description

 

 YOU ARE INVITED TO PROVIDE INPUT ON THE TWO FINALISTS FOR THE POSITION OF PRINCIPAL OF WILLIAM RAMSAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Dear William Ramsay Staff, Parents, Students, and Community Members,

As a follow-up to the Meet and Greet sessions with the two finalists for the position of Principal of William Ramsay Elementary School held on Thursday, April 24, 2025, you are invited to provide your comments regarding the two candidates

Provide Feedback

Comments will be summarized for the next stage of the selection process, an interview with the Superintendent of Schools. The survey link will remain active until close of business (5:00 pm) on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

We appreciate your input.

Sincerely,

John Porter
Search Consultant

LEADERSHIP PROFILE FOR PRINCIPAL WILLIAM RAMSAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

March 27, 2025

1. Purpose

This Leadership Profile defines the specific attributes for the next principal of William Ramsay Elementary School. The profile reflects input from several stakeholder groups to include staff, parents, and the broader school community. Applicants and selection panels will use this profile to assess the candidate qualities of the position.

2. Introduction and Background

The Alexandria City Public Schools initiated a search for the position of principal of William Ramsay Elementary School in February 2025, to replace the principal who moved to a position in central office. 

ACPS gathered information for the leadership profile from a community online survey with staff, parents, and community members. The online survey was open to the public. The survey requested participant comments about the strengths of the school, challenges facing the school and qualities/attributes desired in a new leader. The survey received comments from approximately thirty-nine parents and staff members. Approximately, eighty-eight percent of the respondents indicated they were members of the staff.

As there was no requirement for participants to provide personal identifying information, there may have been some duplication of survey responses. There were, as will be evidenced later, several consistent themes in the survey responses. 

Note, the data provided are not a scientific sampling, nor should they necessarily be construed as representing the majority opinion of the respective groups providing feedback.

As search consultant, I have reviewed the comments made and provided a summary of consistent themes in a concise manner to support the application, interview, and selection process for the new principal. This report, by its nature, cannot include all comments made. 

The strengths, challenges and traits noted will be used to inform prospective candidates and panelists. The successful candidate will be one who, through the interview and selection process, best fits the leadership profile. The selected principal will be a school leader who can provide excellent educational, social, and personal outcomes for students, staff, parents, and the community.

3. Consistent Themes from the Online Survey 

Strengths of William Ramsay School

• Strong sense of community.
• Welcoming atmosphere.
• Diversity.
• Family orientation.
• Collaborative, caring, and supportive environment.
• Strong staff.
• Students.
• Supportive administration.

Challenges for William Ramsay School

• Resources and support systems.
• Expanding parental involvement.
• Student attendance.
• Student behavior, social and emotional growth.
• Student and family mobility.
• Building overutilization.
• Staff retention.

Desired Personal Qualities/Attributes of Principal

• Good listener/communicator.
• Collaborative.
• Approachable, open-minded, and supportive.
• Patient and understanding.
• Advocate.
• Strong people skills/relationship builder.
• Kind, caring, empathetic, and genuine.
• Positive, flexible, and committed.
• Friendly and fun.
• Organized and reliable.

Desired Professional Qualities/Attributes of Principal

• Strong leader.
• Experienced—both in education and in diversity/cultural matters.
• Knowledgeable of Alexandria and ACPS.
• Bi-lingual.
• Respectful.
• Visionary.
• Evidence based/data driven.
• Problem solver.

4. Sample Comments from the Online Survey.

The following statements provide an overview of feedback from the online survey relative to the school community and attributes desired in the new principal: 

• “We need a confident, resourceful leader, but someone who is still approachable.”
• “We take the community portion of our school seriously. Everyone is supportive of one another.
• “Staff and students like to come to school.”
• One who has “Respect for professional role of each staff member, encourages creative ideas, supports staff, and ready to step in when needed.”
• “Professional attributes that would be important to me include being a visionary leader, an effective communicator, and possess an understanding of child development.”
• “The principal should have experience in education, be a good leader, and work well with teachers, parents, and students.”
• “The ideal principal should be a strong, inclusive leader who fosters collaboration and supports the diverse needs of our school community, much like a conductor bringing together different instruments to create a harmonious symphony.”
• “Enthusiasm - this is a happy place to work, and I personally feed off and need that from leadership.”

5. Instructions to Applicants. 

A candidate should use this profile to make a self-assessment and determine how she/he best fits the qualities sought by the school community. These characteristics should be reflected in the content of the application/interview. Should the applicant be selected for an interview, the candidate must demonstrate these qualities in the screening process. A strong principal should demonstrate leadership and management skills, inspire trust, and build support in the school and across the community. We seek a principal who can adopt these qualities for the William Ramsay School community.

6. Closing.

I extend my thanks to all who provided feedback via the online survey. Your time, effort and concern are most appreciated. We look forward to the selection of the best candidate as your next principal.

Sincerely,

John Porter
School Principal Search Consultant
Department of Human Resources, ACPS  

William Ramsay Principal Search Timeline

February/March 2025

• February 12, 2025—Post Job Description/Announcement. 
• March 20, 2025—Post online survey for staff, parents, students, and community members.  
• March 25, 2025—Online survey closes.
• March 27, 2025—Post Leadership Profile online to accompany job description.
• March 15-31, 2025—Paper application review to select candidates for first round panel interviews.

April 2025

• April 9 and 10, 2025—First-Round Panel Interviews. The goal is to select candidates for second-round panel interviews.
• April 14-18, 2025—Spring Break
• April 22, 2025—Second-Round Panel Interviews. The goal is to select two finalists.  
• April 24, 2025—Finalists meet and greet with staff and PTA/Community in two separate virtual meetings.  The community virtual forums are posted online for three days for viewing/feedback.
• April 24-29, 2025—Staff and parents/community provide feedback on finalists from virtual meet and greet sessions.
• April 30-May 2, 2025—Individual interviews of two finalists with the Superintendent of Schools.

May 2025

• May 2025—Alexandria City School Board approval.