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Langley's principal steps down
After 12 years at Langley and eight as principal, Dr. William Clendaniel is retiring.
“It's time to do something different,” Clendaniel, 55, said.
As for what that “something” is, Clendanial doesn't know and doesn't want to.
“I'm really looking forward to a few months of not having to do anything,” admits the veteran of over 30 years in education. “I want to be completely uncluttered.”
Clendaniel first came to Langley in 1996 as an assistant principal, beginning a very successful tenure that saw Langley maintain its standing as one of the nation's best public high schools, and helping shepherd the school through both the D.C. sniper and the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the Pentagon.
According to Clendaniel, many of the characteristics that make Langley unique have been the best things about his job.
“It's just part of the culture here – excellent teachers and very high expectations from parents,” Clendaniel said.
Because of Langley's location and reputation, many of the parents of Clendaniel's students hold high-ranking positions in the government, military or corporate worlds. He gets recognized in the airport by Supreme Court justices and Washington Redskins, and he says that people often think that being principal of Langley and dealing with those parents must make his job harder. Clendaniel is adamant that this isn't the case.
“I think Langley has some of the most supportive parents in Fairfax County. ... Somebody's dad might be the owner of a huge corporation, but they still help sell Langley T-shirts like everybody else,” Clendaniel said.
Of Langley's students, Clendaniel says that feeling like he's made a difference in their lives is the reason he teaches.
“They are really incredible kids,” Clendaniel said. Still, after years as a high school principal, he has some advice for those who work with teenagers.
“Don't be surprised at anything they do. You're just there to get them through the rough moments. Even the most challenging kids come around eventually,” he said.
email the reporter at mtayloe@timespapers.com
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