Top Virginia High School's Principal Steps Down: What's Next?

You might be surprised to hear that the principal of a super popular high school in Virginia is calling it quits. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, once the best in the country, has seen its rankings drop in recent years. Dr. Ann Bonitatibus, who’s been in charge for seven years, is stepping down from her role. She's not leaving education altogether though; she's moving to a new job in the school district.

Bonitatibus joined the school in 2017, bringing with her experience from California and Maryland. She's grateful for the support she’s received during her time at Thomas Jefferson. But not everyone is happy with her departure. Asra Nomani from the Coalition for TJ, a parent group, thinks Bonitatibus' leadership wasn’t the best. During her time, the school's rankings fell from No. 1 to No. 14, and the number of National Merit semifinalists dropped too. Nomani even said dozens of teachers left the school under Bonitatibus’s watch. Not everyone is upset about this change. Some parents are glad to see her go, while others don’t really care. What everyone agrees on is that they hope the next principal will put students first. Parents are eager to have a say in who that will be. Fairfax County school officials are planning to share more details about the process for choosing the new leader soon.

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