Clarke Middle School Interim Principal Derrick Maxwell sits at his desk in Room 326 in CMS with a stuffed mascot on Aug. 8. Maxwell was excited to start the year with a new building that has more space. “We have room to grow. We have some unique learning spaces that are coming available with the gardens and the greenhouse. All those things are going to be different spaces where kids can go to learn,” Maxwell said. Photo by Peter Atchley
Derrick Maxwell has been appointed as Interim Principal at Clarke Middle School for the 2024-25 school year, following the rebuilding of the old CMS building.
Longtime educator Derrick Maxwell was named the interim principal of Clarke Middle School after being approved by the Clarke County Board of Education on June 13. Maxwell aims to rebuild the school community to match the new building that officially opened on July 30.
Maxwell is filling the position after former principal, Dr. Amanda Gorham, accepted a position at her former high school in Fulton County. Maxwell takes his position at CMS after being principal of Whit Davis Elementary from 2012-2016, Commerce Middle School from 2016-2018, and most recently, Winder-Barrow High School from 2019-2024.
“Mr. Maxwell has been a long-time supporter of and advocate for Clarke County students,” CCSD Superintendent Dr. Robbie P. Hooker said in a July 14 CCSD press release. “He not only has great familiarity with our school district, but he has a proven track record of being an effective and successful school leader. His leadership ability will be a tremendous asset to CMS during this period of transition for the school.”
A Facebook post from the Clarke County School District announcing Derrick Maxwell as the interim principal of Clarke Middle School is shown above. According to Maxwell, he looks forward to reconnecting with the students, staff and community at CMS. “I am extremely honored and excited to join the traditions and excellence already established within the entire Owl nation while creating and sustaining new levels of excellence in the beautiful and long-awaited new building,” Maxwell said in a June 14 CCSD Facebook post. Post fair use of the CCSD
Maxwell believes his past experience with students has allowed him to see early literacy skills developed in elementary school that become prevalent later in life, and address them in his struggling students.
“I have been a principal from pre-K all the way through seniors, it has given me an expanded view of the whole picture, and so realizing the skills elementary teachers and administrators do to prepare for middle schools (and) high school,” Maxwell said. “I’m able to see where they have been, where they are, and where they are going.”
“He not only has great familiarity with our school district, but he has a proven track record of being an effective and successful school leader. His leadership ability will be a tremendous asset to CMS during this period of transition for the school.”
— Dr. Robbie P. Hooker,
CCSD Superintendent
According to Maxwell, as well as new non-traditional classrooms both inside and outside the building, he and his team are eager to start the year.
“We have fresh administration, we have some new teachers, so let’s build everything from the ground up,” Maxwell said. “We’re taking advantage of all the newness and trying to rebuild the community.”
