Parkdale's New Principal Wants to Boost School Spirit

Shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon, Parkdale High School's Principal Cheryl Logan finally got the chance to eat her lunch. Her tortellini lunch was "carb heavy" she said, for when she runs later in the evening.

"I'm a distance runner," Logan said, "and a fitness nut."

In her first week as a high school principal, she said she's already realized the differences in this job than anything she's done before.

"This is much more different than being an elementary school principal," Logan said.

She said the first week went well though, not too many scheduling issues, and the teachers were very prepared.

"The students were respectful," Logan said. "Especially because we've been enforcing the school dress code and asking them to tuck in shirts, and when they see me they've been tucking them in without me asking."

One thing she's going to have to adjust to is her usual hands-on approach.

"Most days I work in my office, there's a lot of paperwork," she said. "But I want to be visible to students and teachers, so the other day I worked in the (9th grade) annex."

Logan comes to Parkdale High with 12 years of experience as a principal, mostly in elementary schools. She has 16 years of experience in Prince George's County schools - some as a teacher - and six years in Howard County schools.

She's fluent in Spanish and knows a little French, which helps with Parkdale's very diverse student population, including students from Nepal, West Africa and the Caribbean.

Logan grew up in Landover, where her father still resides today, and has four siblings – three sisters and a brother – two of which are residents of University Park. She graduated from Duvall High School in 1980 and said her familiarity with local issues would help her understand parents' and students' concerns.

Yet, she understand teenagers because she's been a mother to one. Logan has a 20-year-old daughter who will be a junior this year at Kent State in Ohio.

Although she's only a week into the new job, she has a few goals for the year.

Her main focus this year will be to work on Parkdale High's school spirit in regards to both their academics and athletics.

"We want to work on the school's climate," Logan said, "so that students are proud to go here."

She'd like to see that the community's feeling about the school is positive.

Logan also will begin a bi-monthly newsletter in an effort to update families on school happenings.

Another goal is to increase volunteerism amongst parents.

"Many of our Latino parents want to help us out but previously there may have been a language barrier," she said. "I want to remove the barrier. "

The school will also open a broadcast studio in mid-September to help students produce a morning news broadcast.

She said she's looking forward to a productive year, although she knows there will be some adjustment for her and her staff.

"I've gotten more comfortable with delegating," Logan said, "and I know I have very capable assistant principals that divide and conquer."

Although there have been some financial strains this year due to cutbacks, the school was recently told due to their large enrollment of 2,200 students, they could hire six more teaching positions.

"We know we still need to provide the same learning environment for students regardless of the financial situation," she said.

She said she's learning to pace herself and realizes she needs to take some times for herself whether it's a weekend trip or running.

"Ten years from now I want these kids to sort of remember me, say that I was fair and that I really cared about their education and that they had a wonderful time in school," she said.