After 12 years at Lansdowne High School, the past five as principal, Lynda Whitlock is leaving to become principal at Dulaney High School, in Timonium.
"It's been a great place to work. I've really enjoyed working with the students," Whitlock said of Lansdowne "They've got a great faculty here, so I know they're going to continue to move forward and have a great year next year as well."
Whitlock had served as science department chairwoman at the school for two years before becoming assistant principal for five years.
She said she couldn't recall much of her first day as principal of Lansdowne in 2006 because she transitioned into it from her role as assistant principal.
Even though Whitlock's memory of that first day is cloudy, the lessons she has learned leading the school are clear.
"I've seen that with attention and effort that all students can learn," Whitlock said.
"You should never give up on anybody," she said. "If you keep working with students, they will rise to the occasion and succeed."
In May, The Washington Post released its annual rankings of the most academically rigorous high schools in the country, and for the first time, Lansdowne was on the list.
Being named to the Challenge Index put Lansdowne among the top 1,900 high schools out of 27,000 in the country.
"The students here can do great things," Whitlock said. "To work with a faculty that is willing to help the students see their potential and reach great heights makes me very, very proud."
The faculty will miss Whitlock, said Dee Ellis, chairwoman for the physical and technical education departments.
"She never wanted to accept, 'Oh, it's Lansdowne,'" said Ellis, a standout athlete in three sports at the school in the 1980s who's been on the faculty for seven years. "She never wanted to accept second-best, ever. She always wanted to take the kids to a higher level."
Whitlock will officially start at Dulaney July 1.
"Very mixed emotions," Whitlock said about transferring from Lansdowne.. "I'm going to miss the community, my students and faculty very much, but I'm also excited about a new opportunity."
Whitlock cited the larger student body at Dulaney High School as one of the biggest differences.
Dulaney has an enrollment of 1,866 students with 115 teachers and 96 classrooms, according to the Baltimore County Public Schools website, while Lansdowne has 1,249 students, 100 teachers and 70 classrooms.
"They're just a different set of kids, a different set of families. Each community has their own characteristics," Whitlock said. "They'll have different traditions, a different culture.
"The way you address education will vary."
The end of Whitlock's reign will signal the beginning of Ken Miller's.
Miller is no stranger to the community. He taught social studies at Lansdowne Middle School for three years before becoming assistant principal at Arbutus Middle for five.
After leaving Arbutus Middle, Miller served as assistant principal at Woodlawn and Kenwood high schools for a total of five years.
"It's something I've been working towards for the past couple of years," Miller said of becoming principal. "I'm in my 20th year, so I've spent half my career in this area.
"I'm glad to be in a comfortable setting."
The Harford County resident said he recognizes the need for students to have fun, but also for a rigorous academic environment.
"I'm very open. You know where I stand," Miller said. "I think school should serve a purpose of education, and you need a very structured environment.
"I just want to help provide a great education for our kids here. That's priority one."
Ellis said she is sad to see Whitlock go, but sees value in the change.
"We're enthusiastic about Kenny," Ellis said. "I'm sure there's always things a new set of eyes will look at and take things to the next level."
On June 15, Whitlock and her replacement walked down the halls of Lansdowne High School Miller recognized and greeted some of the students by name.
Many in next year's senior class were sixth-graders at Arbutus Middle School during Miller's last year there.
"He knows the. He knows the kids," Whitlock said. "I think he'll be a great fit."