Maria Eck named principal of Justice High School

Eck [FCPS]

Maria Eck, the principal of Poe Middle School, has been named the principal of Justice High School, effective July 23.

In an email to the Poe community July 10, Eck wrote: “I will very much miss Poe and the wonderful students you have allowed me to work with each day.”

The current principal at Justice, Penny Gros, was promoted to the position of executive principal for Region 2, Fairfax County Public Schools announced in May.

A rededication ceremony for Justice High School, formally recognizing the name change from Stuart High School, will take place at the school on Sept. 7.

Eck’s email highlights some of the successes achieved at Poe during her time as principal:

• English Standards of Learning scores increased from 63 percent to 86 percent.
• The school moved from “accredited in warning” status to “fully accredited.”
• Poe’s creative master schedule is being duplicated by other middle schools.
• The school partnered with Virginia Tech and Qualcomm to offer students a one-of-a-kind STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) lab.
• Poe’s small-group instructional model in English and math is often highlighted as an exemplary model for middle school instruction.

Eck expressed appreciation for the PTA’s support for the staff appreciation luncheon, field day activities, book fair, eighth-grade dance, and other activities. She thanked community partners Annandale United Methodist Church, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, and Genesis 12 Christian Fellowship Church for providing hot meals for students in after-school programs, holiday baskets for families, and a homework club.

Before joining the Poe staff in 2014, Eck was assistant principal at McNair Elementary School and Glasgow Middle School and was intersession coordinator at Glen Forest Elementary.

Eck formerly worked in Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Florida as an administrator, classroom teacher, and teacher of students learning English. She is fluent in Spanish and has worked extensively in schools with high percentages of English language learners.

Eck earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Florida International University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.