Weems Elementary Principal to Lead Metz Middle School in July

The woman who represented Weems Elementary School on national television as it received a

Weems Principal Angela Burnett is the newly-appointed principal of Metz Middle School, Manassas City Public Schools officials announced on Thursday.

She begins her new assignment on July 1.

"I look forward to working with Ms. Burnett as she begins a new administrative chapter in her professional career with Manassas City Public Schools," Dr. Catherine Magouyrk, superintendent of Manassas schools said.

"Ms. Burnett has a proven track record of improving student performance. I know that she looks forward to working collaboratively with teachers and parents at Metz to address the needs of all students."

Burnett has been the Weems principal since 2007. She also served as assistant principal at the school from 2004 to 2007 after teaching middle school mathematics within the school division, Manassas City Schools spokeswoman Almeta Radford said in a press release.

Watch Burnett's appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show

Before coming to Manassas, Burnett worked as a math instructional specialist in the New York City school system, where she developed the implementation of a new math program for grades Kindergarten to eighth grade.

She also provided ongoing professional development of various teaching strategies in mathematics, Radford said.

"I am excited to be back where I started 10 years ago when I joined Manassas city schools working with the middle school students, Burnett said. "I am also very excited to see many of the students I worked with in elementary school and to watch them and their peers flourish during their middle school years."

Burnett is one of 18 principals in the area who received the 2013 Distinguished Educational Leader Award from the Washington Post.

She was lauded for her strong leadership and the way she inspires her staff. Not only has Weems shown high academic success, as principal, Burnett set the bar high for creativity and innovation at the school, school officials said. 

Under her leadership, the schools' enrichment program was expanded to offer new opportunities for students ranging from culinary arts to creative writing.

Read more about Weems' creative programs that encourage students and their families to read together.

Burnett set a school-wide goal to help all students find, develop and demonstrate their talents and gifts, all while developing a passion for learning. Parents, students, colleagues and community leaders alike have praised Burnett for her work ethic, innovative educational initiatives and boundless enthusiasm, school officials said.

 This spring, the Ellen DeGeneres Show and online photo-sharing site, Shutterfly, awarded a $50,000 check to Burnett on national television, to be used towards the school-wide uniform effort Weems hopes to implement in the near future.

 Burnett earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Hampton University. She also received a master’s degree in administration and supervision, Kindergarten to 12th grade from the College of New Rochelle in New York and holds a Virginia Post Graduate Certificate with endorsements in elementary education Kindergarten to sixth grade and administration and supervision, Kindergarten to 12th grade. 

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