On June 11, 2019, Shelly Gray was selected as the new permanent principal at LaSalle-Backus Education Campus, where she currently serves as an assistant principal. She replaces Interim Principal Nikeysha Jackson, who was selected as the permanent principal for West Education Campus. Ms. Gray’s appointment is effective June 24, 2019.

For some reason, DCPS principals have one-year contracts and it seems like elementary and middle schools in particular see new principals every one to two years. It is hard to see how that kind of constant leadership change is good for schools.

This latest round of musical chairs for LaSalle, which is now resulting in principal number three in two years, was prompted by an unfortunate incident at Roosevelt High School. Former LaSalle principal Justin Ralston was tapped to lead Roosevelt after that incident, even though LaSalle itself was and still is in the middle of its own transition phasing out its middle school grades. Ms. Jackson was tapped to serve as interim principal of LaSalle. In the same period, DCPS selected Megan Vroman, former principal of West, to lead the new Ida B. Wells Middle School. That selection opened an opportunity at West that will be filled by Ms. Jackson.

Hopefully this latest appointment will provide leadership stability for LaSalle for the next few years.