Pyle Middle School welcomed Chris Nardi as the school’s new principal this year, taking over for Jennifer Webster who moved to Damascus High School. Nardi discussed his experience working in multiple different schools, what he brings to the Pyle community and his goals for his new job in an interview with the Black & White.

The Black & White: What did you do prior to your position at BCC?

Pyle principal Chris Nardi: I spent my first 13 years in education at the middle school level. I helped open Neelsville Middle School in 1996 and I was there for six years. Afterwards, I went to Seneca Valley, and four years later opened Clarksburg High School as an English resource teacher. How often do you get the chance to open not one, but two schools? Then after being at Clarksburg for a little over four years, I looked to see what else was there and I had the opportunity to become the assistant principal at B-CC. Then the opportunity at Pyle came – I think I’ve been very fortunate.

B&W: How does it work when a principal moves among MCPS schools?

Nardi: There is a panel that then narrows down the candidates for an open position down to three or four, and then the candidates interview in front of usually a group of people that includes parents from that community, staff from that community and usually the community superintendent.

B&W: Was it hard to leave B-CC?

Nardi: It’s hard – I think you develop relationships, but I also think you make the most of your opportunities.

B&W: What brought you to Pyle?

Nardi: With an opportunity to become a part of a school that I know has a great reputation that feeds into a wonderful high school, having been in B-CC and that community, and my kids go to school in the neighboring community, I think I understand the community well. It was kind of a neat opportunity to come here and be a part of what I think is a school that does the three C’s: community, they have a very strong community, a culture of high expectations, and they have a commitment to excellence.

B&W: How does the Pyle community compare to that of B-CC?

Nardi: Middle schools and high schools are a completely different thing. B-CC has some other programs that maybe Whitman doesn’t have like the IB program. But, the levels of expectations are very much the same [at both Pyle and B-CC].

B&W: Can these high expectations be harmful to students?

Nardi: I don’t know that it’s bad to have high expectations. This community values education a great deal and so I think that’s what feeds into these high expectations. Middle school is a time where kids are kind of learning how to learn, they’re learning good habits and I think that that’s what they are promoting and what we are promoting here at Pyle – with those high expectations can come some stressors as well, and we want to help kids manage that in a healthy way.

B&W: Are there any goals that you have for the school?

Nardi: I would like to continue to work on the social/emotional aspect of the school in terms of helping kids manage success and how to handle and overcome situations that don’t go their way. I have worked with the counselors and we’re working on some ideas such as some presentations or speakers that would help address some of that. Middle school is still a place where habits can be built that can be very productive and useful for kids going forward. I think when a kid gets to high school, they’ve developed some habits already; good, bad or indifferent. From an academic standpoint, I think the important part in education is to have a growth mindset where you are continually trying to do things a little bit better.

B&W: Is there anything in specific that you’re really excited for?

Nardi: I’m excited to be back in middle school! I think middle school is a great time.