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Lakelands Park Middle School Principal Joseph M. Sacco, 56, will retire Jan. 1 and will take over the director of education position at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
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Lakelands Park Middle School Principal Joseph M. Sacco will retire Jan. 1 and become the director of education at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
Sacco, 56, announced his retirement in October. He has been principal at the school since it opened four years ago.
Sacco said he was leaving with mixed feelings.
"It's just been a lot of fun and I'm going to miss it very much," he said. "I'm telling the kids to be sure to visit me at the zoo."
An interim principal will be appointed during the search for a permanent replacement, said Chris Cram, a school system spokesman.
Sacco said he was taking the position at the zoo "to go back to my science roots" and renew a long interest in biology. He said his undergraduate degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., was in animal science and he had considered becoming a veterinarian until choosing a career in education.
He taught for one year at a private school in New Jersey before joining Montgomery County Public Schools, where he has worked for 32 years as a teacher, guidance counselor and school administrator.
Sacco said he interviewed for the zoo position early in the school year after hearing about the opening from a member of his college alumni association. He starts work at the zoo on Jan. 5.
The opportunity to hire staff at Lakelands and put his personal stamp on the school were among his most rewarding experiences as an educator, Sacco said.
"Every school I've worked at, I've loved working with the students and this has been an extremely supportive community" he said. "Opening a new school has always been a dream of mine and I've felt we built a very strong staff."
Jennifer Palmiere of Gaithersburg, president of the school PTSA, said Sacco has done "a great job in hiring teachers. He seems to be very proactive and interested in bringing in technology wherever that's possible."
Palmiere said Sacco will be leaving behind many parents who appreciate his openness and willingness to involve them in school decisions. She cited his creation of cadres, groups of 12 to 15 staff members, parents and students that he consults on student achievement and other topics, as an example of his commitment to seeking diverse opinions.
"He insists on weekly meetings with me, even if it's for 10 minutes, to let me know anything he thinks is important so that if I'm asked about something and parents are concerned, I can answer them," Palmiere said. "He wants me to be aware of things right away."
