After the Albemarle County school division announced a new principal would be taking over Center I, the outgoing head of the specialized satellite school has threatened legal action.
“My leaving here is not voluntary,” Center I Director Jeff Prillaman told The Daily Progress.
After the official statement announcing Prillaman’s replacement made no mention of Prillaman or his departure, The Daily Progress reached out to Albemarle County Public Schools for clarification.
“It’s not a resignation or retirement or anything,” school division spokeswoman Helen Dunn told The Daily Progress. “It would be fair to say he will be leaving that post.”
Dunn referred to multiple instances of misconduct on Prillaman’s part, but The Daily Progress could not vet any of those instances and Prillaman did not respond directly to them.
“My side will be addressed in legal action,” Prillaman said.
Dunn suggested The Daily Progress print that Prillaman’s future career in academia was "unclear."
Asked where he was headed next, Prillaman only said, "Right now, I would not speak on my situation."
Prillaman will still be employed as the director of Center I until June 30, Dunn said. Jay Thomas is to assume the role on July 1.
Thomas previously served as principal of Albemarle High School for eight years before he was named executive director of secondary education for the county; he has served another eight years in that role.
“It was evident through multiple rounds of interviews that Mr. Thomas has a clear and compelling vision for the future of Center I,” Superintendent of Albemarle County Public School Matt Haas is quoted saying in the statement announcing Thomas’ appointment. “He understands the unique needs of this learning community and brings both the knowledge and the passion to lead it forward.”
Center I is a specialty three-year high school with three major career pathways: cybersecurity, game design and media communications. It opened in 2018 and has a 250-student capacity.
Prillaman has served as the director of Center I since the start of the 2022-23 school year, but he has worked for Albemarle County Public Schools in various roles for more than 15 years.
He started in 2009 when he developed the Math Engineering and Science Academy, or MESA, for Albemarle High School. He was the director there until 2015, when he was moved to the position of lead instructional coach for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics for the county.
From 2018 to 2022, he was the specialty center planner and designed spaces to solve capacity issues at county high schools.
Prillaman and Thomas have been colleagues, and Prillaman shared his respect for Thomas in a school newsletter earlier this month where Thomas’ appointment was also noted.
“Knowing and working closely with Jay over the last 15 years, I applaud this decision and will work closely with him to minimize any significant changes to Center I,” Prillaman is quoted saying.
Prillaman’s departure and Thomas’ arrival will not be the only changes at Center I this year. The school is undergoing a rebranding and will adopt a new name next school year: the Albemarle Career Exploration Academy @ Seminole Trail.
Titles within the school will change as well. Although Prillaman is now called the director of the school, when Thomas assumes the position, his title will be principal.
Other changes are related to staff turnover.
“Most of the staff are also leaving here, which is unfortunate,” Prillaman said.
Their decisions to leave were voluntary and for reasons unrelated to his departure, he said.
“At this time, we are aware of two teachers leaving, and both of those positions are posted to be filled,” Dunn said in an email to The Daily Progress quoting an unidentified colleague.
The Daily Progress requested the total number of staff employed at Center I today. She did not respond.
Source: www.dailyprogress.com