Avant Garde Academy Westchase Names New Principal

WESTCHASE, FL -- Avant Garde Academy Westchase, a STEAM-focused charter school in Tampa, has named Virginia Maxwell as its new principal for the 2018-19 school year.

Maxwell will be responsible for leading the school while fostering its STEAM-focused mission by overseeing all staff and student body, analyzing and implementing curricula, and managing school operations.

Maxwell brings 27 years of experience in public schools and three years of experience within charter elementary and middle schools throughout the greater Tampa Bay area. Prior to becoming principal at AGA Westchase, she served as assistant principal for a local K-8 charter school in Hillsborough County, helping the school achieve an “A” rating in 2017. Previous to that, Maxwell served as assistant principal at McDonald Elementary School in Seffner, where she taught an all-girls first-grade class and a self-contained ESE class.

“We are very excited to have someone with the skills, vision and dedication of Ms. Maxwell leading Avant Garde Academy Westchase,” said Elena Orovio, chair of the school’s board of directors. “We are confident that Ms. Maxwell’s experience and abilities will elevate our school’s STEAM-based curriculum, while fostering a positive and stimulating learning environment for students and parents to share in.”

Her plans include strengthening parent partnership and communication, amplifying project-based learning opportunities, and working closely with faculty to continue developing teaching skills that meet the needs of every student - all while bringing to life the school’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math mission through her leadership.

Maxwell earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and her master’s degree in educational leadership from St. Leo University.

Parents and students will have the opportunity to meet Maxwell during scheduled weekly tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays at AGA Westchase, 13901 Sheldon Road.

Press release provided by AGA Westchase

Image via AGA Westchase

(For more local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Tampa Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)