The Manassas City School Board introduced five new administrative leaders during its regular meeting as the division prepares for the 2026-27 school year, beginning August 12, 2026.
Montell Brown will serve as principal of Baldwin Intermediate School. He joins MCPS from Fairfax County Public Schools, where he was an assistant principal, and brings leadership experience across elementary, middle, and high school settings.
David Keiling was introduced as assistant principal at Baldwin Intermediate. He has already been serving in the role while continuing as coordinator of health, physical education, driver education, and family life education.
Natalie Short is the new principal of Hayden Elementary School. An Osbourn High School graduate, she has served MCPS since 2008 in instructional and leadership roles, most recently as assistant principal at Hayden.
Jess Newman will serve as assistant principal at Hayden Elementary. She brings more than two decades of experience in classroom teaching, special education leadership, instructional coaching, and school administration. She most recently served as instructional facilitator at Jenny Dean Elementary.
Jody Place is the new assistant principal at Osborne High School. She was unable to attend the meeting. Place has more than 20 years of educational leadership experience, including roles as an assistant principal and alternative education administrator.
