Roadrunners Lose Leader: Riverdale Principal Carol Cantu Leaves the Nest

After working with the community and parents at Elementary, Carol Cantu said it's hard to say goodbye.

Cantu, who after receiving open heart surgery earlier this year decided to , teared up as she talked about her time leading the elementary school at the heart of Riverdale Park.

Challenges and Success

"What I thought would be the challenge wasn't the problem," Cantu said, reflecting on what she was told when she started the job. "They told me the community was the issue and that I would have to calm a storm."

However, she noticed quickly that the community wasn't the issue at all. Instead, because she was able to communicate to parents in both English and Spanish, she felt like communication was more fluid and parents felt like they were being heard.

"'Buenos Dias' goes a long way," Cantu said, noting her parent liason helped her understand the community's needs and parent and family circumstances better.

For Cantu, the challenge was helping the school get out of its "school improvement" status — something the school fell into after failing to meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) on the Maryland State Assessments (MSAs). The school was only a year away from being taken over by the state.

After being at the school only a year, Cantu helped Riverdale Elementary meet its goal. Each year since the school has met its goals as well, allowing it to leave "school improvement" status.

"What I found out was that there were some fantastic teachers in this building, but that there was always a large turnover," she said. "I had to find a way to keep the teachers."

Cantu said she decided she would keep that teachers by making sure she could get them what they need to teach each year. Since Riverdale Elementary is a Title 1 school, she applied for grant money and had teachers request items they believed could help them teach. She also helped teachers become Nationally Board Certified.

Nine teachers received this distinction during Cantu's tenure.

Special Moments

She said her fondest memories are her moments with Assistant Principal Carol Buhr, who also retired this year.

"We made a pack to laugh three times a day," Cantu said. "She would tell me these funny stories 'cause you need to laugh on this job."

Another thrilling moment was when the school received its test scores.

"Each time we made AYP, we knew we were helping kids," she said.

She also was excited about learning of Riverdale's history — in 1909 the schools was considered the best in the county.

"We told the students and held them to that standard of excellence," she said. In 2009, they celebrated 100 years of excellence and Cantu said at that time they had the highest number of Nationally Board Certified teachers and hadn't had any parent complaints.

Cantu learned that the school missed it's AYP for this school year. Although, the school's rating won't change based on one year's results, the school will have to make AYP next year in order to maintain its status.

Although, Cantu is leaving she isn't retiring from teaching just yet. She's taking on the job of principal at a small Christian school with 100 students.

Riverdale's Future

As for the new school leaders, Cantu said they would benefit if they speak Spanish, are good listeners and are willing to work long hours. Cantu said many times she came to school early and left late to be available to parents who worked different hours.

"I've loved this community and school," Cantu said. "If it weren't for health issues, I'd stay."

Prince George's County Public Schools spokesman Briant Coleman said they have not chosen the new principal or vice principal for Riverdale Elementary. He said surveys taken by teachers and parents will be taken into consideration when hiring the school's new leaders.

Cantu hopes to return to the school for its international nights.