As the majority of MVHS unwinded for spring break in April, MVHS Assistant Principal Janice Chen anxiously awaited the results of her application for the vacant position of Lynbrook High School Principal. After almost three months of rigorously answering questions about her career as the Assistant Principal of MVHS, Chen finally received an email from the FUHSD Board of Trustees informing her that she had been selected for the position.
The news about Chen’s appointment as the new principal of LHS was celebrated at a Board meeting on April 22 and was announced in an email to FUHSD staff by Superintendent Graham Clark later that night.
“It’s really hard to put everything I was feeling into one word,” Chen said. “It was just a mixture of all kinds of emotions. I don’t think it hit me until a couple weeks later when it became public at the Board meeting. But even now, it still hasn’t really fully hit me yet, because I’m still MVHS’ Assistant Principal, finishing out the school year.”
After working as Assistant Principal for seven years, Chen says she’s been searching for openings for principal in the district for a couple of years now, which is why she decided to apply for the opening at LHS. However, as an alumni of MVHS, Chen realizes that leaving the school will be especially difficult for her.
“It’s definitely the right step for me professionally and it is a goal that I’ve always wanted to achieve,” Chen said. “I’ve always heard that it’s one of the most fulfilling jobs that principals have had. I’ll miss MVHS a lot, but moving on is just a part of life, and this is the next phase of my life. I’ll always think of this school very fondly and as a place that has helped me grow.”
As Chen reflects on her time at MVHS as assistant principal, she hopes that her legacy continues to be the work she and the rest of the staff have put into fostering a student-centered environment. Formally beginning her new position on July 1, Chen plans to carry her student-centered mindset to LHS through engaging with the staff and student body early on.
“LHS is already such an amazing school, but I think what’s important is to look for improvements that we can make and never be complacent,” Chen said. “From my experience at MVHS, I want to continue to listen to the staff and especially listen to students at LHS. Overall, I’m really excited to learn, but I think I’ll always be a Matador at heart because MVHS is a very special place for me.”
