"I'm there to support, encourage, motivate; I'm there to help parents and help children. But the teachers and other staff members need to know that they are leaders also."
— Roger Vanderhye
With 38 years in education, Roger Vanderhye, 59, of McLean was named new principal July 1 of Whitman Middle School, at 2500 Parkers Lane in Alexandria, replacing former principal Jean Bell.
Coming from an international background, Vanderhye was the principal at international schools in Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Chile, Africa, and also Arizona and Colorado.
In September, Whitman Middle School with grades 7-8, is projected to have 1,010 students, with 40 percent in the ESOL program, and a total of 140 staff members. The 2014-15 ethnic breakdown of students is: Asian 6.26 percent; Black 25.58 percent; Hispanic 43.95 percent; White 19.95 percent; and Other 4.35 percent.
"(Whitman) a really strong school. It's got programs and highly trained staff for every child's needs. It doesn't matter what their needs are. Whether they're high performing or struggling, we have a supports in place, what we call scaffolding for all students," Vanderhye said.
Whitman has a high percentage of students from military families as well as children on free or reduced meals. It also has an International Baccalaureate (IB) Program school for grades 7-8, which encourages critical thinking and problem solving for all children. "We really want them to be thinkers, and the IB program is a very good vehicle for that.”
Courses at the school include science, history, civics, reading, writing, math, band, strings and chorus. "It's an incredible array of programs; there's something for everybody there," said Vanderhye.
As part of the Mount Vernon Pyramid, the students feed into Mount Vernon High School and come from six elementary schools. "We're really working hard with the vertical articulation from Kindergarten to 12th grade in the Mount Vernon Pyramid. We're a very tight group," he said.
Already, Vanderhye has met with most of the staff, including teachers, office staff and after-school coordinators. "They're some of the most dedicated, hard-working people," he said. "I've been super-impressed with how the staff is really together and how they really care about the school."
He added: "We owe the parents the best education for their child and we're going to provide that. We want to be known as a world-class middle school; we want to be known as the school to attend."
The school has a business partnership in place with the U.S. Army at Fort Belvoir. "The Army has been a wonderful asset to us; they're very supportive in volunteerism, and in supporting all different endeavors. They're just an all-around excellent partner," he said. "We're looking for other types of business partners."
Vanderhye believes in a flat management style, not a top-down organization, where all staff members are leaders. "I'm there to support, encourage, motivate; I'm there to help parents and help children. But the teachers and other staff members need to know that they are leaders also," he said. "I'm the leader of many leaders. They need to know that and they need to be supported by me and my administration."
One of his challenges is children who speak little to no English. "We have very difficult state examinations and it's difficult for our special needs and ESOL children. They are judged at the same level as all other children," he said. "And the expectation by the state is they are going to have to pass the SOLs in civics, science, writing, reading and math at the same level as all other children."
His personal goal is to move Whitman from a good school to a world-class school. "Every child has the right to be challenged academically, to go to school in a safe environment where they can develop socially, emotionally and academically," he said. As far as the PTA, he hopes to have monthly get-togethers for both 7 a.m. coffees and 7 p.m.meetings.
Rick Tritle, interim principal of Spring Hill Elementary where Vanderhye was principal, said that from the moment Vanderhye arrived at Spring Hill 12 years ago, he proven himself to be an outstanding leader and mentor. "He has provided the staff, students, and parents with guidance born from his many years as a principal; experiences that have been garnered from having been a principal in many countries," he said. "Within the school and the community at large, Roger is a trusted friend, educator, and administrator. His guidance and counsel was/is sought by many and not just at the local level."
Angela Minutoli, a sixth-grade teacher at Spring Hill Elementary, who has worked with Vanderhye three times over the past 25 years — in Greece, Saudi Arabia and Spring Hill — called him a smart guy who knows his stuff. She said he creates and promotes a positive learning environment at school, directed by data. "Roger is present at all of our weekly CLT (Collaborative Learning Team) meetings where we discuss the needs of our students. If we need assistance, he will do what he can in his power to help us," she said. "He attends all school functions and is often on the Morning Show sharing the school's latest accomplishments."
Stacey Davis, administrative assistant at Whitman, said: "With more than 38 years of experience in the field of education, in different countries and various cultures, (Vanderhye) brings a depth of personal understanding and respect for ethnic diversity and culture to our school community. His enthusiasm for his students, staff and community encourages all concerned, to reach for our personal best, as we embrace the challenges of learning and growing. He inspires excellence."
Vanderhye grew up on the South Side of Chicago, and went to the University of Idaho where he received a degree in elementary education and played Division I baseball. From there he moved to Charlottesville, taught middle school science and got his Master's degree at University of Virginia in administration and supervision.
He started his international career in Tanzania, Africa, where he was a teacher at the International School at Tanganyika, in Dar Es Salaam. From there, he went to Fort Collins, Colo., where he taught for two years, then went to Cortez, Colo, where he was principal for two years. He moved overseas to Nido De Aguilas, in Santiago, Chile, where he met his wife, Cecelia, and had his first son.
From there, they moved to Athens, Greece, where he was principal for three years at the American Community School. He then moved to Mesa, Ariz., and was principal of Whittier Elementary School for five years. In 1997, his school won the U.S. Department of Education award for educational excellence for being the highest performing Title I School in Arizona.
From there, they moved to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and he was principal of the Consulate School for three years. Then they moved to Brussels, Belgium, where he was principal of the International School of Brussels for 2 and a half years. They then moved back to the states where he was principal of Spring Hill Elementary in McLean for 12 and a half years.
Vanderhye's wife, Cecelia, is principal of Belvedere Elementary in Falls Church. The couple has two sons: Nick, 26, a physical education teacher; and Alex, 24, a consultant with KMPG; and both are graduates of Fairfax County schools.
Margi Vanderhye is his sister-in-law; she was in the House of Delegates, 34th District, representing McLean. She was recently appointed by Gov. Terry McAuliff as executive director of the Virginia Commission for the Arts.