Primary school loses principal

By Jane DeGeorge
Eagle Reporter
Published: July 31, 2008

School officials are searching for a new principal to head Madison Primary School this coming school year.

Now-former MPS Principal Jamie Mathieson is leaving the Madison County school system and journeying to Venable Elementary School next month.

Mathieson – who had worked at the primary school since 2002 – recently made the decision to switch jobs, he said.

“The position became open late and it’s within five minutes of where my children go to school,” said Mathieson, who will take over as the principal of the Charlottesville school.

In addition to working near his teenage children, the ex-Madison County principal, who lives in Keswick, will cut his current commute time significantly, he said.

“It’s tough economic times…this is a much shorter drive,” he said.

Although he said he is excited for the new opportunity and to experience the challenges that go along with transitioning to a new job, Mathieson said he was very happy at MPS.

“I got to tell you I love working here,” he said of the primary school. “I’m leaving a very solid faculty and the school is just in great shape. I feel good about leaving the kids, I think they will be well taken care of.”

Madison County school officials opened up the MPS principal position last week and are currently reviewing applications, according to Mathieson. 
The deadline to apply for the position is 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, according to the Madison County Public Schools Web site, where the job opening is posted.