The head of school and academic principal at Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 School are returning to work after four months of forced leave after an autistic four-year-old student walked away from the school and was found walking barefoot in the middle of the street near the King St. Metro station.
In a letter this week to Jefferson-Houston parents and staff, head of school John McCain thanked administrators PreeAnn Johnson and Julia Neufer for “serving as the acting leadership team and providing consistency for our community.”
McCain announced that he and academic principal Tiffany Young were returning to work on June 16, which is more than two months since they were relieved of their duties.
“I am pleased to also inform you that Ms. Tiffany Young and I look forward to returning to Jefferson-Houston on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, to prepare for the new school year and work with our team to plan for a smooth opening of school on August 19,” McCain wrote.
McCain did not refer to the incident that led to his suspension.
“Given why the leadership was put on leave, I find it strange that we are getting informed of their return via email from Dr. McCain rather than from the central office,” a Jefferson-Houston parent told ALXnow. “His email is a bit odd as it completely omits any reference to the issues that led to their leave. There is no indication of how things will be worked on or improved, nor is there even an acknowledgment that there were issues with leadership at Jefferson-Houston in the first place.”
The incident occurred after school on Tuesday, March 19. The four-year-old was found by a school bus driver in the middle of the tunnel near the entrance of the King Street Metro station at King Street and Commonwealth Avenue. The student walked less than a half mile from the school to where she was found.
The student will not return to the school, her mother told us.
The administrators were put on leave for two months after the incident. Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt said that the issue was deeply concerning, and that families “should feel confident that their children are safe in our schools.”
The full letter from McCain is below.
Dear Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 School Families and Staff, Thank you all for supporting the Jefferson-Houston school community this past school year to ensure that our students had a successful school year.
I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to Ms. PreeAnn Johnson and Ms. Julia Neufer for serving as the acting leadership team and providing consistency for our community. In addition, I want to express my gratitude to Dr. Megan Tempel-Milner, Ms. Jodie Peters and all central office staff who provided extra support as well. I am pleased to also inform you that Ms. Tiffany Young and I look forward to returning to Jefferson-Houston on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, to prepare for the new school year and work with our team to plan for a smooth opening of school on August 19.
Our goal this summer is to build on our achievements to ensure that we continue providing the best possible educational experience for all our students. We are committed to fostering an environment where every child thrives academically, socially and emotionally. We look forward to a strong start to the new school year and to welcoming our students back on the first day of school. Please keep an eye out for updates regarding important dates, back-to-school events and other pertinent information as we approach the start of the school year. The 2023-24 school year was filled with growth and achievement, and I am incredibly proud of our students, teachers and staff for their hard work and dedication.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we can make Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 School a place where excellence is the standard and every student has the opportunity to succeed.
Have a wonderful summer!
