Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School has named Anne Ceasar principal of St. Bede Elementary for the 2007-08 school year. Ceasar will remain principal of the middle school and will hire two assistant principals to help manage the day-to-day operations of both campuses.“We believe Anne is the right choice for St. Bede, and will bring the same enthusiasm and professionalism to our elementary program that has marked her tenure at the middle school,” said Faustin Weber, president of MCPS. “At the same time, Anne believes her work at the middle school is not complete, so she and I think creating the three-person administrative team is the best solution.”
Ceasar, the middle school principal since 2004, said she is looking forward to the challenge.
“I am excited about the prospect of returning to the elementary level while, at the same time, maintaining my position at the middle school. This opportunity will also serve as a bridge between these two educational communities and help make our institution even stronger,” said Ceasar.
Prior to her career as principal, Ceasar taught seventh and eighth grade at Our Lady Queen of Mercy. She later taught fifth grade in international programs in Tehran and Beirut before returning to Montgomery to become a fifth-grade teacher and science lab instructor for the Montgomery Public Schools.
Enrollment during her tenure at the middle school has grown from 135 to its maximum capacity of 200 for this fall.
Weber said the search led him all over the country.
“We had a lot of interest in this position. After many telephone interviews, I traveled to the southwest and northwest to meet the other finalists personally,” said Weber. “In the end, I believed Anne was the best fit. I am grateful she is willing to serve the community in this extraordinary way, and I’m thrilled that we will have two assistant principals training under her. That should serve us well down the road.”
Ceasar replaces Eleanor McCormack, who will move back into the classroom at St. Bede so as to spend more time with family, especially during the summer months.
“When we opened the middle school, St. Bede went from a K-8 parochial school of 400 to a K-6 regional school of 300 as part of MCPS,” Weber reflects. “Boards were changed. The finance office was moved. Budgets were created for one school with three campuses. Dramatic institutional change is always challenging, but Eleanor led the transition with equanimity and good humor, playing a critical role in our success. For that, the Catholic community will be forever grateful.”
