School Superintendent Appoints Interim Principal at Alexandria School

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- Seazante Williams Oliver has been appointed as the interim principal for Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology effective immediately, Alexandria City Public Schools announced Monday.

Oliver, who was formerly a principal for six years in Suffolk Public Schools in Virginia, will focus on strengthening the school’s successes in math, reading and social studies, according to ACPS. She replaces former Principal Brandon Davis, who has been reassigned.

The move comes after an article by The Washington Post that reported Principal Brandon Davis "allegedly told teachers this spring to call the parents of students who appeared on the brink of failing the exams to inform them of their right to opt out of the tests, according to the investigation. Three dozen parents decided to pull their children from the state Standards of Learning exams; no parents at the school had done so the previous year."

Oliver comes to Cora Kelly from George Mason Elementary School where she was an assistant principal for four years. During that time, she was a strong instructional leader and fostered warm relationships with her students and their families, according to ACPS.

As assistant principal, she also served as a member of the Section 504 and Student Intervention teams, and as a site test coordinator, managing test materials, coordinating testing schedules and ensuring testing security. During this time, she collaborated with school staff to ensure proactive management of student behavior through Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS), evaluated instruction and devised staff professional learning plans.

“I am pleased to have been selected for this position and assume this leadership role," Oliver said. "The experience I bring from my time as a principal in Suffolk as well as my time working with students with disabilities, testing coordination and student intervention in ACPS have equipped me well for this role."

"I am excited to join the Cora Kelly school community, to collaborate with the students and their families, and to continue together the academic progress this school has made and ensure that every student succeeds,” she said.

During her time as an elementary school principal in Suffolk, Oliver utilized research-based, tangible resources to improve academic performance, while boosting extracurricular activities to promote cognitive, psychological and social development.“We are pleased to support Dr. Oliver in her new role as principal of Cora Kelly. She is a highly motivated and dedicated educational professional who is clearly committed to ensuring the success of her students by building meaningful relationships with them, their families and the community. We believe she is the right person to lead this school,” said Superintendent Alvin L. Crawley.

Oliver will start in this role on Monday, Oct. 3.

PHOTO: Seazante Williams Oliver photo courtesy of Alexandria City Public Schools