Bruce Butler to be Interim Principal at West Potomac

On Friday, Cluster 4 Assistant Superintendent Deborah Tyler announced the veteran educator Bruce Butler will become the interim principal for West Potomac High School. According to the announcement, Butler will stand in as principal for the start of the 2013-2014 school year.

Fairfax County Public Schools sought out someone to hold the position after the death of Principal Cliff Hardison in late July.

After 31 years, Butler retired from Fairfax County in July 2012. He was the the previously the principal of South Lakes High School from June 2005 to July 2012. Butler started his career at Herndon High School as an earth science teacher and became an administrator after 12 years in the classroom.

Butler was named FCPS' First-Year Principal of the Year in 2006 and earned the Robert R. Spillane Leadership Award in 2010.

"During his tenure as principal, Mr. Butler proved himself a skilled community-builder, helping his community rally from a boundary change process that led to over 800 additional students joining the school," said Tyler in her announcement Friday. "Mr. Butler also provided steady leadership over the $48.2 million renovation of South Lakes which was completed for the 2008-2009 school year."

Butler's first day at West Potomac was Monday, Aug. 5. FCPS will begin the selection process for a permanent principal for West Potomac High School later in the 2013-2014 school year.