Acting principal takes over at Thomas Stone
School administrator resigned after taking leave
Thomas Stone High School in Waldorf is under new management with acting Principal Sharif Pearl, a former vice principal who was promoted internally, following the recent resignation of the school’s principal, Michael Charlton.
“It was just a temporary appointment as we knew Mr. Charlton had a family emergency,” Pearl told the Maryland Independent on March 13. “In dealing with his family emergency, [he decided that it was best to resign]. Family comes first and so we wish him the best. We just hope that he is able to take care of what he needs to take care of.”
During the week of March 4, Pearl sent out a letter to the school community which confirmed Stone’s administrative change. The letter noted that Charlton, a La Plata resident who had been Stone’s principal since relocating to Charles County in 2017, initially “took emergency personal leave” this past January but ultimately “resigned from his position as principal,” leaving a vacancy that Pearl was asked to fill “until the end of the school year.”
“When we have a vacancy, we look at the team that’s at a school and we make a decision about how to fill that vacancy,” said Superintendent Kimberly Hill, who appointed Pearl to her new role. “Ms. Pearl has been at Stone for several years and has the trust and confidence of the community, and of me. So, it was my decision to elevate her to acting principal.”
Hill said that she is “very confident” in Pearl’s ability to “create stability” at Stone and do a “great job” while finishing the school year strong.
“She knows the community. She knows the students. She has the respect of the teachers and that’s what we need in a leader,” Hill said. “We need someone who can bring people together — that’s what Ms. Pearl has demonstrated she can do.”
Throughout the past month, Pearl said Stone’s administrative team and staff have “continued to focus on providing students with a positive educational experience in a safe learning environment.” The faculty also welcomed A.K. Johnson, a retiree of the school system who last served as an activities coordinator and provided support to the administrative team, according to the letter.
Like Pearl, Johnson will continue to at Stone until the end of the school year.
“One of the big things now that we will focus on, as we get into spring, is scholarships which is money that’s earned by our seniors,” Pearl emphasized. “Our senior class is roughly around 280 students and they have already earned over $14 million in scholarships. That’s $4 million earned more than the previous graduating class. We have a lot of school spirit running through the building right now. We’re in testing season so we are just focusing on what’s important and making sure that learning is purposeful, and that students and teachers are giving 100 percent effort.”
Overall, Pearl said her transition has been smooth thanks to the school community’s support over the last four years.
“This is my fourth year at Stone so it wasn’t like I was a new person coming in. I think it’s a smooth transition because I was like a sub-principal anyway,” Pearl said. “After being here for four years, I think I’ve built that important relationship with the community and students. I don’t think this was a shock to the school.”
Having worked for Charles County Public Schools since 2009, which included a stint as “principal designee” at Stone in Charlton’s absence, Pearl said she is excited to get things moving.
“I was honored to be appointed as acting principal. When you’re an administrator, it’s always our goal to move up in the ranks.” said Pearl, a former administrative assistant at La Plata High School and math teacher at Milton Somers, Matthew Henson and General Smallwood middle schools. “This was a little unexpected [as school administrators] don’t typically go through this kind of change mid-year. But I accept the challenge like most people would. We’re going to finish the school year at Stone just as strong as when we began. We’re looking forward to keeping all instructional programs running and all of our initiatives that we have going.”