I want to share important news with you directly. After 31 years in public education, and 12 deeply meaningful years as principal of University Park Elementary, I have made the decision to retire at the end of this school year.
This decision comes with mixed emotions. Serving this community has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life. Together, we have worked intentionally to build and sustain a school where staff members are celebrated, supported, and challenged to do what is best for children, and where children feel joyful, connected, and eager to learn.
I am incredibly proud of our collective efforts to remove barriers for families and ensure that University Park is a welcoming and rewarding place for every member of our community. From strengthening instructional practices to expanding access and opportunity, our shared commitment to children has always guided our work.
In the coming weeks, Mr. Darryl Evans, our Instructional Director, will communicate with the community regarding the next steps in the process for selecting the next principal of University Park Elementary. The district will follow a structured and thoughtful process to ensure a strong continuation of leadership for our school.
While this transition is bittersweet, please know that I remain fully committed to leading our school community with focus and care through the remainder of this school year. We still have meaningful work ahead, and I look forward to finishing strong—together. Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and the privilege of serving your children.
Last week, our entire school community successfully participated in the Virtual Learning Planning Drill. This drill ensured we are fully prepared should we need to transition to virtual instruction due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
During the drill, teachers worked closely with students to confirm that they could:
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Log into Canvas using their individual passwords
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Navigate Canvas to access classroom assignments
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Locate and join their Google Meet link for attendance
We are proud of how thoughtfully our staff and students approached this practice. These proactive steps help ensure continuity of learning with minimal disruption if a virtual day becomes necessary.
If your family needs to request a Chromebook for at-home use in the event of an inclement weather day, please submit a request through Synergy using your ParentVUE account. The steps for requesting a Chromebook are here
We are excited to celebrate our students’ achievements during our Quarter 2 Virtual Honor Roll Assemblies for students in grades 2–5. The assemblies will take place from Tuesday, March 10 through Friday, March 13, from 1:00–1:30 p.m. These special celebrations recognize our students’ hard work and academic success. Families of honored students will receive invitations to the virtual programs in the coming weeks. We look forward to celebrating together!
🚗 Traffic Safety Reminder for All Families
The safety of our students, staff, and families remains our highest priority. In order to ensure a smooth and safe arrival each morning, please carefully review and adhere to the following traffic procedures:
🚦 Drop-Off Zone Expectations (Underwood Street & Queens Chapel):
Do not park in the Drop-Off Zone. This lane is designated for active unloading only.
If you are in the Drop-Off Zone, students must exit on the curbside of the vehicle only.
Parents/guardians should remain in the vehicle at all times.
Please ensure that your child is able to independently unbuckle their seatbelt or car seat and exit the vehicle promptly.
This keeps traffic moving efficiently and prevents backups on surrounding streets.
Vehicles that are parked or unattended in the Drop-Off Zone significantly slow traffic flow and create safety concerns for everyone.
🚫 Staff Parking Lot:
Families are not permitted to enter the staff parking lot during arrival.
Do not park in staff-designated parking spaces.
Parents and students should not walk through the staff parking lot.
This area is active with staff vehicles arriving, and pedestrian traffic creates a serious safety risk.
We appreciate your partnership in modeling safe, responsible behavior for our students. Consistent adherence to these procedures ensures that arrival is safe, orderly, and efficient for all members of our school community.
We will publish the next Eagle Newsletter on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. However, if you would like to read back issues of the Eagle News Newsletter, you can find this year's published newsletters on our school's website under the heading 'Announcements and Newsletters.' If you have questions between now and then, please contact me at Toi.Davis@pgcps.org or 301-985-1898.
