After 33 years with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), including 13 years as Montgomery Blair High principal, Renay Johnson announced her retirement, effective July 1.
In a letter to Blair families, Johnson said she was leaving with “mixed emotions.”
Johnson is the first woman principal at Blair, which has the largest enrollment of any MCPS school. She was appointed in 2011.
A fierce Blazers’ fan, she regularly tweets out student achievements, whether it’s the score of a sports game, a concert, science competition or other activities.
In a Veterans’s Day tweet, she thanked her husband for his service in the U.S. Navy, noting, “Our date will be at the Blair Girls Soccer State Semifinals Game.”
Former teacher, principal and Board of Education member Jeanette Dixon called her “an esteemed member of the Great Woman Club,” and noted how proud she is of her in X, formerly known as Twitter.
According to the school’s Alumni Association, Johnson taught at Georgian Forest Elementary School before becoming a math teacher at Galloway Elementary School. She then moved to Bradley Hills Elementary, where she worked in the counseling department.
Her next move was to head counselor at White Oak Middle School. She entered administration as the assistant principal at Paint Branch High School, where she supervised the math and English programs.
In 2006, Johnson was named Takoma Park Middle School principal. Then in 2011, she took the reins at Blair.
“Montgomery Blair High School is truly exceptional, boasting a student body of over 3200 students and 317 incredibly talented staff. We celebrated outstanding graduation rates, and remarkable participation in advanced placement and honors courses. Our students continue to thrive earning county, state, and national recognition for their outstanding achievement and they gain admission to the top colleges and universities in the nation,” Johnson wrote in her letter to the Blair community.
She wrote that she is grateful for the strong social-emotional support provided to Blair students. “This support has played a crucial role in fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment, where students feel valued and empowered to reach their full potential.”
MCPS intends to advertise for a new principal in February, and Johnson expects the community to be involved in the selection process.
IMPRESSED with our quick @mbhsSCO student reporters, Sachin & Isabelle for breaking the story!😊👏🏽
“Blair principal Johnson announces retirement” Silver Chips Online https://t.co/CWWPL5c4d2
— Renay Johnson (@blairprincipal) January 30, 2024
