Eline began his education career as a middle-school science teacher in Massachusetts and then spent two years in the Peace Corps, teaching five subjects at Mogol High School in Papua, New Guinea. Being there, he said, made him appreciate American culture and values even more and gave him a better understanding of different cultures. Said Eline: "You realize diversity's a good thing." "Sometimes we forget the voice of the student," he continued. "So once a month, I'll invite students in for a principal's lunch to hear how we're doing at school - what's great at Rocky Run and how we can make it better. I'll also ask how I'm doing as a principal and what I can do differently. I think the student's voice is valuable." What gives Eline the most satisfaction is "seeing students be successful. For example, for the reluctant learner, it can be a teacher who turns them around so they enjoy learning. Or watching students get involved in a club, such as robotics, putting in the time it needs, seeing the pride they take in what they're doing and then seeing the finished product and how well they do in competition."
Papua New Guinea RPCV Matt Eline is new principal at Rocky Run Middle School
Taking Command at Rocky Run Middle
Matt Eline is school's new principal.
By Bonnie Hobbs
Thursday, November 04, 2010 Bookmark and Share
There's a fresh, new face this year at the helm of Rocky Run Middle School - Matt Eline. The assistant principal at Fairfax High since 2006, he replaced former Rocky Run Principal Dan Parris, who's now the assistant superintendent for Cluster III.
After interviewing for the job, Eline learned the good news in mid-July. "I felt the excitement of a new challenge and was pleased because I think I'm a good fit for the school and the community," he said. "Rocky Run's done particularly well academically and is a high-flying school - and that's what it's all about - so I was excited to come here where students are doing so well and being so successful."
Raised in the Berkshires, in western Massachusetts, Eline initially wanted to be a doctor. He did a pre-internship at a hospital but, he said, "I didn't like blood. But I'm service-oriented and like working with people, so my dad - who taught chemistry - suggested I take an education class at the University of Massachusetts. Part of it was observing teachers in school, and it hooked me."
"There's a certain adrenaline rush when you develop a lesson and see children learn it and the light bulb go on," said Eline. "There's such satisfaction working with kids and seeing that. It's incredibly rewarding, and that's what appealed to me." Besides that, he said, "Every night, you have two or three great stories to tell. School is a high-energy place."
And he can share those stories with his wife Belinda, who teaches fourth grade in Prince William County. He's also a dad to four boys, stepsons who are 21 and 19 and in college, plus twins, 4.
Eline began his education career as a middle-school science teacher in Massachusetts and then spent two years in the Peace Corps, teaching five subjects at Mogol High School in Papua, New Guinea. Being there, he said, made him appreciate American culture and values even more and gave him a better understanding of different cultures. Said Eline: "You realize diversity's a good thing."
He then taught science at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Arlington and biology at Hylton High in Woodbridge. Next, he designed and implemented the first Virtual High School for Prince William County Public Schools and, as its principal, he nurtured the growth of 14 online teachers.
But Eline missed interacting with students so, from 2003-2006, he served as assistant principal at Brentsville District High School. He then was sub-school principal at Fairfax High. Among other things, he was responsible for the academic achievement, administration and discipline for all 11th-graders; as a result, he reduced the number of expulsions and suspensions there for three consecutive years.
But the chance to be a principal beckoned so, when he heard about the opening at Rocky Run, he researched the school and community, determined he'd fit in well and applied for the job. And now, he's excited about this new challenge.
During the summer, said Eline, "I was so impressed with the number of staff members who came in, on their off-contract hours, to meet and talk with me. That showed me how invested they are in the school, and it meant a lot to me. Then about 45 parents came to a PTA meet-and-greet and I answered their questions and talked to them about my philosophy of education, so I felt very welcomed."
Regarding that philosophy, he believes, "The most important thing is that decisions are done as a team, based on what's best for students." He also believes in listening and being available to students, parents and staff.
Furthermore, said Eline, "Because middle school is a difficult transition for students, we also have to help them mature - give them goal-setting and organization skills and discuss honesty and integrity to round them out as people. We focus on academics, but we need to equip them with the skills they need to go to the next level."
He said Rocky Run's strengths include its Professional Learning Community and "strong teacher-leaders who work closely with the administration to [improve things] for students. So there really is a partnership here."
Eline's also pleased that teachers look at the data and develop a plan on how to help each, individual student. "They review it every four weeks and, if a student slips, a plan is activated," he said.
Since coming to Rocky Run, he's spent time getting to know the staff, students, school culture and community, and he didn't intend making any immediate changes. Indeed, he believed his biggest challenge would be "following a great leader like Mr. Parris. You want to maintain that success and keep students going in the same direction so they maximize their learning."
He's also delighted to have the opportunity to be a principal. "I'd done the assistant principal's job and was ready for a different role," said Eline. "But I still feel like a teacher in the core of me. So I haven't lost touch with how I felt as a teacher and, many times, it helps when making decisions. No one person can run a school, and we all have to work as a team. I also think humor's important - school should be fun for kids."
"Sometimes we forget the voice of the student," he continued. "So once a month, I'll invite students in for a principal's lunch to hear how we're doing at school - what's great at Rocky Run and how we can make it better. I'll also ask how I'm doing as a principal and what I can do differently. I think the student's voice is valuable."
What gives Eline the most satisfaction is "seeing students be successful. For example, for the reluctant learner, it can be a teacher who turns them around so they enjoy learning. Or watching students get involved in a club, such as robotics, putting in the time it needs, seeing the pride they take in what they're doing and then seeing the finished product and how well they do in competition."
And if they're happy, so is he. Thrilled to be Rocky Run's new leader, he said, "For me, it's the start of a new journey."
