Richard Montgomery High School Names Principal Intern

David Mugerwa will step into the acting principal role this December while the current lead administrator takes leave.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Administration

Gouache-painted illustration of professional journals on a wooden desk, symbolizing the administrative transition in a school leadership role.
David Mugerwa will serve as the acting principal at Richard Montgomery High School starting December 14, 2026, during the principal's seven-week leave. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Richard Montgomery High School has appointed David Mugerwa as its principal intern for the 2026-27 school year. Mugerwa is set to assume the position of acting principal starting December 14, 2026.

Why it matters

The internship program, established by current principal Ms. Deeny, aims to mentor the next generation of school leaders to prepare them for future administrative responsibilities. Mugerwa views this opportunity as a significant stepping stone toward eventually securing a permanent principalship.

David Mugerwa brings 21 years of total experience to the internship, having previously served at Paint Branch, Bethesda-Chevy Chase, and Parkdale high schools. He maintains a 24 to 48-hour response window for all student emails.

The players

David Mugerwa

He is the current principal intern and assistant principal for the junior class at Richard Montgomery High School with 21 years of experience in the education sector.

Ms. Deeny

She serves as the principal of Richard Montgomery High School and initiated the internship program to mentor future school administrators.

The details

Mugerwa currently serves as the assistant principal for the junior class at the Rockville campus and actively engages with students through floor-level visibility and social media updates. His transition follows a leadership initiative designed to provide hands-on training during the seven-week leave of Ms. Deeny.

Timeline

  1. The 2026-27 school year marks David Mugerwa's tenure as principal intern.

  2. December 14, 2026, marks the start of the acting principal assignment.

  3. Ms. Deeny is scheduled to be on leave for seven weeks.

Culture Shift

The school's leadership development model reflects a broader shift toward formalizing internal promotion paths within large educational systems. This approach mirrors the structured progression established by the Montgomery County Public Schools administrative leadership pipeline.

Students at Richard Montgomery High School should expect to see continued communication through email and social media as Mugerwa assumes his new role. The administration expects to maintain current service levels throughout the seven-week transition period.

The takeaway

Schools that prioritize internal internship programs can ensure smoother leadership transitions when primary administrators are absent. Students and parents benefit from consistent administrative communication styles even when a temporary change in school leadership occurs.

Further reading

For more information on school leadership transitions, visit Rockville Administration.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The MoCo Show.

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