LA PLATA, Md. (July 21, 2009)—William Wise, principal of Mattawoman Middle School and a 44-year veteran of Charles County Public Schools, has announced he is retiring as of July 31. Wise, who has been a middle school principal for 31 years, is also a former Charles County Public Schools principal of the year.
"I feel fortunate and honored to have been a part of the Charles County public school system and to have had the opportunity to work with the best," Wise said.
Wise began his career in education in February 1965 as a fifth-grade teacher at the old Waldorf School. He transferred the next year to Lackey High School as a social studies teacher and also served as a social studies teacher at Pomonkey High School and Matthew Henson Middle School. He was assigned as a vice principal in 1974 at Milton M. Somers Middle School, and also served for one year as vice principal at La Plata High School. In 1977, Wise was named as the first principal at Piccowaxen Middle School, opening the new school and serving for eight years before moving to the principal spot at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School. It was during his eight years at Stoddert that the school was named by the state as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
In 1994, Wise accepted the challenge of opening another new school, Mattawoman Middle School, where he has served as the school's only principal. Wise was honored as the Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leader and the Charles County Public Schools Principal of the Year during the 1997-98 school year.
Wise was also selected as the 2008 Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) Principal of the Year. The students honored Wise for his many years of promoting student leadership at the middle school level. The Principal of the Year award highlights the many contributions made by principals throughout the state who support student activities and student leaders.
"Bill Wise has served Charles County, our children and our community with a quiet professionalism through his 44-year career. He was the type of educator who saw the best in everyone, and always treated students, parents and staff with respect. Dr. Wise worked countless hours over the years to ensure he was providing his students the best possible education. We are thankful for his many contributions over the years and his commitment to excellence. He will be missed, and we wish him well in retirement," said Superintendent James E. Richmond.
Wise has a long history with Charles County Public Schools where he began his career as an elementary student at Indian Head Elementary School and continued on to graduate from Lackey High School.
Richmond said the search for a new principal at Mattawoman has already started, and he hopes to be able to name a successor soon.
Source: Charles County public school system