Dear Spring Hill Elementary School community,

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Maria Eck, current principal at Justice High School, has been selected as the new principal of Spring Hill Elementary School effective July 1, 2021. We thank Interim Principal, Sal Rivera, for his positive leadership throughout this school year. He will continue to serve the Spring Hill community through June 2021. Ms. Eck and Mr. Rivera will immediately start collaborating to ensure a smooth transition.

Ms. Eck brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the principalship. She has been a highly effective principal at elementary, middle, and high school levels within FCPS and has also been a principal in Florida. As a leader, Ms. Eck continuously works alongside staff to provide feedback and partners with teachers in Collaborative Learning Visits which have led to an increase in classroom best practices, grade level vertical articulation, and overall positive school climate. She has piloted curriculum in reading that has increased the achievement of special education students and English language learners. At Justice High School, Ms. Eck created and implemented a rigorous program that led to an increase in course enrollment and an increase in International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma candidates by 40%. As a principal and assistant principal in middle and elementary schools, she has supported IB programs, Middle Years IB programs, and Advanced Academic Placement centers. Ms. Eck has led teams in developing structures to identify Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports protocols and a framework to identify students who would benefit from intervention supports.

Ms. Eck is a member of the McLean community and a leader with extensive cross-cultural experience and values input from staff and parents. She has worked with parents to create and build a sense of community among the staff and greater school community. She has strengthened afterschool programs and supports technology through training and secured funding for programs such as Robotics, Lego League and other science and math pursuits. 

Ms. Eck received her Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education from Florida International University, her Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University and is in the process of obtaining her doctorate from Virginia Tech. Please join me in welcoming  Maria Eck as the new principal of Spring Hill Elementary School.

Sincerely,

Douglas A. Tyson

Assistant Superintendent, Region 1