Russell Gets New Principal, Belmont Hills Says Goodbye to AP

 including two that impact Smyrna elementary schools.

Principal Nancy Dipetrillo will retire after 29 yearsas an educator, the last eight years at . Peter Manson, currently the assistant principal at Kemp Elementary School in Powder Springs, will take over as principal effective July 1.

Manson said he’s excited about the opportunity to lead Russell Elementary School. Dipetrillo introduced him to students last week on the school’s video announcements. Manson told Smyrna-Vinings Patch he was very impressed with  and the school’s emphasis on science and math, something he said he’d like to continue as principal.

“The school already has an outstanding reputation of excellence due to the amazing leadership under Dr. Dipetrillo for the last eight years,” he said in an email. “I look forward to continuing this wonderful tradition and getting to know all of the stakeholders of Russell this summer through informal meet and greets.  We will be ready in August to ‘blast off’ to another amazing school year!”

While one school welcomes a new principal, another Smyrna elementary school says goodbye to their assistant principal. Stacey Abbott, the assistant principal at , will leave the school this summer to take over as principal at Hollydale Elementary School in Marietta. Abbott said there’s no word yet on who will take her place at Belmont.

At the meeting last week, Cobb County School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa said new principals and assistant principals are appointed by a committee of stakeholders comprised of members of the school’s staff and community participants.

“We like to include teachers and we like to include the school secretary,” he said. “Some of them are by natural position, but also we have in the past asked board members if there’s anybody they’d like to have on the committee. Usually we try to pick community members who are involved from the community, either the churches or the business associations, but there is an opportunity for board members to give us a suggestion if they so choose.”

This committee creates a job description that outlines what they’re looking for in a principal for their school. This is approved by the district’s human resources department and the job listing is posted. A separate committee reviews the applications and interviews the candidates. They report their findings to the area superintendent and the appointment is then approved by the superintendent and the school board members.