Shepherdstown Middle welcomes new principal

Susan K, Wall, superintendent of Jefferson County Schools, is pleased to announce William O. Kerlina as the new principal of Shepherdstown Middle School. Kerlina comes to Shepherdstown with 17 years of educational experience, including six years as a building administrator.
After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Michigan State University, he began his teaching career with Muskegon Heights Public Schools in Muskegon Heights, Mich., where he spent three years teaching second, fourth and sixth grades.
In 2000, his family moved to Potomac, Md., where he obtained a job with Montgomery County Public Schools. He spent the next nine years with Montgomery County, teaching second, fourth and fifth grades, working as a staff development teacher and then entering the administrator’s training program.
Kerlina received his Master of Arts degree in Administration and Supervision from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. He became an assistant principal at Waters Landing Elementary School in Takoma Park, Md. After completing the administrator’s training program, he was recruited by Michele Rhea, chancellor of schools with the District of Columbia Public Schools, to serve as a principal at Hearst Elementary School in Northwest D.C.
He served as principal at this school for two years, during which time he worked with the staff and community to build a Pre-K through fifth grade school (Hearst was previously a Pre-K through third grade school) and doubled the size of the school by increasing out of boundary enrollment. He implemented a number of instructional programs that improved students’ test scores. He increased parents’ participation in school activities by working with the PTA to offer parent workshops, weekend events, and creating opportunities for parents to volunteer in classrooms to support the learning of students.
Kerlina says he is extremely excited to be appointed as principal of Shepherdstown Middle School. He looks forward to working with staff, parents, students, and the community to improve the academic programs at Shepherdstown. His primary goal is to increase the school’s overall standings on the state assessment.