FALLS CHURCH, Va. — The Justice High School community is searching for a new principal, again.
It's the fifth time they've been through this process in more than 10 years, and this time around the PTSA is pushing for more community input to be included.
"This will be our fifth principal selection process in 12 years," said Justice High School Principal Kim Lanoue, in an interview with WUSA9 on Tuesday.
She says Justice is a complex school with nearly 70% of students qualifying for free and reduced lunches. She says 45% of the students are English Language Learners.
In a letter written to the Justice High School community on February 27, Tiffany Narcisse, the current principal said "I have accepted an incredible opportunity to serve as a High School Principal in Bahrain, a beautiful country situated in the Middle East off the coast of Asia."
She also wrote that her last day would be June 30.
Lanoue says this letter was sent to Fairfax County Public Schools leadership last week. The letter is signed by the PTA presidents of the six elementary schools and a middle school that feed in to Justice High School.
In it, they detail "thirteen characteristics desired by the community".
One characteristic they want is someone who's going to stick around.
"The turnover is challenging in that it's difficult to obtain a consistency of academic excellence," said Lanoue.
Tuesday night FCPS leadership held a virtual meeting to share more on the hiring process and answer questions.
They told participants that the position was posted to their website on Wednesday, February 28. Just one day after Narcisse announced her departure.
One participant asked "what have done to learn from the experiences of prior principals?"
Dr. Brendan Menuey, the executive principal for school improvement, said they've spoken to Narcisse about her experiences, as well as the other principals who've worked at Justice High School the past few years. He says these are conversations they plan to continue having.
Another participant asked what measures will be taken to prevent quick turnover of the position in the future.
"We're looking at commitment to communities in the past," said Megan Vroman, the Assistant Superintendent for Region 2.
"In our hearts we all want a leader who will commit to a certain amount of years," said Vroman, adding that sometimes "jobs happen, life happens".
Others voices concerns over a lack of trust in the system, and a lack of transparency from the system when it comes to making hiring decisions like this one.
"I am hearing loud and clear that there has been a lack of trust in the process. What I can commit to and say today is that I'm committed to authentically being open and thinking about ways that we can make sure our communication is serving the needs of the entire justice community," said Vroman.
Throughout Tuesday night's meeting, FCPS leadership stressed that they want the input from the community.
"We want to hear what we should ask? What do you care about," said Menuey.
They are asking parents to send any of their thoughts and opinions on the hiring of a new principal in an e-mail to HRPrincipalPool@fcps.edu.