New school superintendent named for Manassas

Dr. Catherine Magouyrk, a Georgia educator, will be Manassas city’s new superintendent of schools. The vote of the school board was unanimous, according to a news release. The new superintendent will begin work on Monday, July 2.  She succeeds Dr. Gail Pope, who announced her retirement earlier this year.

Scott Albrecht, chairman of the Manassas City school board was quoted in a news release as saying, “We listened to a good deal of public input and believe we have found the perfect match for our needs and our school system. Dr. Magouyrk is an experienced educator who knows how to provide the leadership needed to get outstanding results in the classroom,”

Dr. Magouyrk was the associate superintendent for student achievement and leadership in Douglas County, Georgia.  Her former division included 25,000 students and 33 schools.  Manassas City Schools have 7,025 students, eight schools and an alternative education center.

According to Albrecht, “While in Douglas County, she led a significant increase in student achievement. Her school district had the highest number of schools to make Average Yearly Progress in Georgia (27) and the highest number of schools to receive state recognition.”

The school board chairman also was quoted as saying that, “Dr. Magouyrk has been in charge of student achievement in a much larger school system with high percentages of at-risk students.  The Board believes her success in both increased graduation rates and improved student achievement will help our schools move up to the next level of performance.”

Dr. Magouyrk began her career as a high school math and social studies teacher.  She has also was an assistant principal at the middle and high school levels and an elementary school principal.

According to the city school board chairman as quoted in a news release, “She has hands-on experience at each level of an education system.  She is collaborative, an effective communicator and, most importantly, she has consistently demonstrated an ability to increase student achievement for all students.”

Formerly, the news superintendent was director for curriculum and instruction in Marietta, GA, a school system similar in size and diversity to Manassas, and deputy superintendent of teaching and learning in Macon, GA, a Title One division of 22,000 students.

More than 24 people from nine states filed an application for the superintendent’s post. Albrecht was quoted as saying, “The School Board was very pleased with the number of highly qualified candidates who wanted to serve as our next Superintendent.  It was truly a nationwide search and resulted in us being able to select the right person for our needs.”

Dr. Magouyrk and her husband plan to reside in Manassas.