MCPS Chief of Staff, James D’Andrea, to Become Principal at Cheltenham High School in Pennsylvania

Current MCPS Chief of Staff, James D’Andrea, has been announced as principal of Cheltenham High School, effective Friday, July 1, 2022. D’Andrea, who is still listed on the MCPS website as Chief of Staff, was appointed to the position on June 10th, 2021, but did not begin to serve in the position until July 1, 2021. Cheltenham High School is located in Wyncote, PA, which is coincidentally in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The full press release from the school district can be seen below:

“After an extensive search and interview process, Mr. James D’Andrea has been appointed as the principal of Cheltenham High School, effective Friday, July 1, 2022. The board voted to approve his appointment at the Tuesday, June 14 legislative board meeting.

“Mr. D’Andrea is a collaborative, results-driven leader who is committed to working with students, staff, parents/guardians and the community to build on the many successes that Cheltenham High School has achieved,” said CSD Superintendent Dr. Brian W. Scriven. “He is passionate about fostering a welcoming and equitable learning environment grounded in high expectations.”

Mr. D’Andrea comes to the Cheltenham School District with 21 years of experience in public education. From 2001 to 2007, he served as a science teacher, grade-level team leader, and academy coordinator at Anacostia Senior High School in Washington, D.C. For the past 15 years, he has served as an administrator in the Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools as a high school assistant principal, middle school principal, high school principal, and school system chief of staff. During his tenure as principal of Northwest High School in Germantown, Maryland, his notable successes included an increase in graduation rates and improved results on student and staff climate surveys. Notably, Northwest High School is one of the largest and most diverse high schools in Maryland with more than 2,500 students in grades 9-12.

Mr. D’Andrea earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Vanderbilt University in 2000; a master’s degree in secondary science education from George Washington University in 2003; a graduate certificate in school administration and supervision from Johns Hopkins University in 2007; and a master’s degree in measurement, evaluation, statistics and assessment from the University of Illinois-Chicago in 2013.

Mr. D’Andrea will be scheduling times to meet with students, staff, parents/guardians, and community members this summer.”

– Cheltenham School District