JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Sporting Imagine Andrews Public Charter School uniforms, young children from kindergarten to sixth grade embarked on their first day of school Aug. 19; it was also the principals first day of leading the school.
Sharon H. Porter brings 18 years of teaching and administrative experience to her new role as principal of Imagine Andrews.
"I'm so excited about the opportunity to be assigned to Imagine Andrews," Porter said." I feel honored to be a part of such a unique school."
As a lifetime educator, she served as classroom teacher, assistant principal, test development specialist, elementary and middle school principal in Prince George County Public Schools and most recently, middle school principal with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools in North Carolina.
This school year brings new experiences to her career.
"I've only taught at public schools, not public charter schools," she said.
She also stated, 65 percent of the families attending the school are military, and this is also her first on-base professional school experience.
"My father and two of my brothers are in the military," Porter said. "I'm very connected and familiar with some of the challenges military families face. I'm just excited to be a part of that and help build some stability while they are here."
Porter said she welcomes the challenge of leading and integrating developmental age groups in the years to come.
The goal for each school year is to open its doors to another grade level until it reaches eighth grade.
"We're up to sixth grade this year which is exciting," she said. "I've taught and been an administrator in middle school, a developmental age group I happen to love. I look forward to growing to become K-8."
In the meantime, she said her focus is on her students' scholarly achievement and the commitment to high expectation, innovation and collaboration. Communication is vital to success, and Porter has a plan to improve it.
"My personal goal is to maintain and establish positive relationships with the community on and off base because 35 percent of our students come from the surrounding Prince George County region," she said.
Her plans to build an inclusive environment include helping promote and increase the parent teacher organization membership; establishing a leadership team to organize events; sending out weekly updates parents can sign up for upon registration; and establishing a social media presence on Twitter.
"With respect to the parents' wishes, I love to promote positive things going on as I walk through the classrooms, take a picture and tweet it out," she said. "I feel like we're going to do great things, so we want people to know about it."
Understanding the constraints of the charter school budget, Porter said Imagine Andrews will continue to seek volunteered help from supporters on and off base, and give back by volunteering in the community as well.
"I know starting up any school, let alone a charter school, has its challenges," she stated. "I applaud the staff and the former principal for all the effort put into this school. I look forward to earning trust and respect."