by Kate Evans
A Virginia educator and administrator has been hired as Berkeley Springs High School’s newest Assistant Principal.
The Morgan County School Board approved the hire of Brian Raciborski at their July 18 meeting. Raciborski began his new position on July 3.
Raciborski joins Berkeley Springs High School Principal Mitch Nida and Assistant Principal Jason Smith on the high school’s administrative team. Former Assistant Principal Carrie Holloway resigned effective at the end of the 2022-2023 school year.
Career, college education
Raciborski was previously Dean of Students at Stone Hill Middle School in Loudoun County Public Schools, Virginia for one year and was Dean of Students at Skyline Middle School in Warren County Public Schools, Virginia for two years. He also was an instructional coach and testing coordinator for Arlington School District, Virginia for two years.
Raciborski was formerly a band director at Rappahannock Elementary and Rappahannock Middle/High School in Rappahannock County Public Schools, Virginia for five years.
Raciborski received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Shenandoah University and his Master’s Degree in Education and Educational Administration from Averett University in Danville, Virginia. Raciborski said that all throughout the years since college he has been helping out with the local marching bands.
Raciborski said his three big responsibilities as Assistant Principal at Berkeley Springs High School will be special education, attendance and testing.
His other responsibilities will include teacher evaluations, the Virtual Academy, overseeing the mentor program and coordinating the Advanced Placement (AP) exams and program.
His focus
In education, Raciborski said he focuses on building positive relationships in school and using that to build a positive school culture. It really helps teachers to focus on their needs as well as on student success.
“They’re in the thick of it,” he said of teachers.
With being a band director for five years, Raciborski said he’s also a big supporter of the arts and how they can help with that positive school culture.
Raciborski said his coming to Morgan County Schools has been very positive, and everyone he’s met seems very friendly. For now, it’s just the three of them working at the high school — him, Principal Nida and Assistant Principal Smith. He’s looking forward to meeting everybody when other teachers and staff come back to school.
Raciborski noted that he’s also looking forward to having less of a commute to work and getting home to his family at a better time. Before he had to commute to work in northern Virginia from his home, which is a lot farther away.