September 27, 2004, Dr. Kevin Maxwell announced his promotion to community superintendent of the Watkins Mill, Gaithersburg, Damascus, and Magruder High School clusters and the ending of his tenure at WJ. After four years of service, his reign as king of the school officially ended on October 8th.

Maxwell departs from WJ to “professional growth and a promotion” which he hopes will further his career. The new position gives him the responsibility of supervising around thirty six separate schools. He will help with “school improvement plans and work with schools to increase achievement.”

While some decry Maxwell for leaving his home and the students at WJ, others, like senior Jessie Stein, see it as “the first time he has ever put himself in front of anyone else. I respect his decision.”

But who is this man, K-Max, who the students of WJ have learned to admire and respect? Maxwell graduated from the University of Maryland in 1977 after serving several years in the US Navy Medical Corps. He began teaching horticulture at Crossland High School in 1978 in Prince George’s County. He fondly remembers growing plants with students and selling them to raise money. After advancing through the ranks of administrative positions, he ended up at Northwestern High School. Following eight years of service as principal, he left Northwestern to come to WJ.

Maxwell quickly made a name for himself at WJ with his student-based approach and laid back personality. In senior Mike Mertz’s words, “He was the student’s principal. He wasn’t just an administrator, but a cool guy, too.”

Throughout his time here, there have been too many experiences involving Maxwell to consider one the most memorable. His second year at WJ started out with the attacks on September 11th, and in his third renegade snipers plagued the area. During those two weeks of fear, he personally searched the woods across the street every morning to prevent an attack on the students.

Maxwell has led through the good and the bad. Our boys soccer team won the State championship, the school was stricken with the tragedy of the untimely death of two students, and countless teachers have come and gone. He looks back on the school coming together after the death of Rod Bower and the drive to Annapolis as “a fabulous statement about the type of students at WJ.”

Maxwell is replaced by former social studies department resource teacher Dr. Christopher Garran, who left WJ in 2001 to become part of the administrative team at Wheaton High School. At WJ, Garran was a respected instructor, involved in many of the S*T*A*G*E productions, and had a following of devoted students.

Maxwell leaves behind many memories and moments. He has helped students out of tough situations, lead the school through moments of heartbreak, and his legacy will never be forgotten.