Herndon High Principal is Resigning After Seven Years

Herndon High Principal William Bates says he will step down from his job on July 30 to take an administrative post with the Baltimore County Public Schools.

Bates has been with Fairfax County Public Schools for 17 years, and has led HHS since 2009.

He was named FCPS’ Principal of the Year in 2015.

Here is the memo Bates sent to the community on Wednesday:

Herndon Hornet Community,

Effective July 30th, I will be resigning from FCPS to embark on a new chapter in my professional career as Director of School Performance with the Baltimore County Public Schools. In my new position I will be coordinating system-wide professional development and supporting Resource Teachers. However, I am most enthusiastic about my role of leading K-12 principals through the School Performance Plan Process as well as my responsibility for leading, coaching and mentoring new and novice principals with a focus on principals who are assigned to Title 1 and priority schools within the Baltimore County School System.

During my 17 years in FCPS I learned a tremendous amount about teamwork and school leadership. Through my involvements with Lead Fairfax; teacher leader cohort, administrative internship and the aspiring principal cohort I was provided with wonderful professional development experiences that shaped me as a leader and prepared me well for the next leg of my journey. These phenomenal learning opportunities not only sharpened my vision as a leader, they also helped me to gain a better view of how school systems operate. However, more than the personal and professional learning that took place during my career in FCPS, I will chiefly cherish the relationships I built with countless caring leaders, teachers, school staff, students and parents in the Herndon Pyramid. Since 2007 I have called the Herndon Community my home and the Herndon Hornet Staff my family and during that time I made friendships that will last a lifetime.

FCPS has been good to me. A few of my most humbling career experiences came when I was named principal of Herndon HS in 2009 and when I was recognized as the 2015 FCPS Principal of the year and Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leadership Award winner. Additionally, I served as the president of the FCPS High School Principal’s Association in 2015. These are accomplishments that will live prominently in my heart forever, but it was the wonderful work being accomplished at Herndon High School and the support of the Herndon Hornet Community that made these things possible!

As a member of the Herndon Hornet Family I witnessed countless occasions where adults refused to give up on children. I have seen firsthand, our teachers and school counselors place kids first. Routinely, I would observe secretaries carrying bags of food into the school to feed kids in the morning and coaches and administrators waiting at night in dark parking lots with kids after games, until the parents arrive to pick up our students.

Over the past 9 years I witnessed Young Hornets reach their highest goals and aspirations because of dedicated school staff and caring parents who created pathways for success. I can’t say enough about the miraculous things that are happening in the Herndon Pyramid on a daily basis and it’s all because of people like you. People who care about kids! People who respect and care for their school community! People who are willing to do whatever it takes to help All Hornets be Successful, No Exceptions!

With much respect,

William L. Bates Jr. Principal and Treasure Hunter

Herndon High School