Potomac School in McLean will kick off its fall classes Sept. 4 with about 1,070 enrolled students and 185 faculty members.
The school’s Engelhard Performing Arts Center underwent summer renovations to reconfigure seating in the Langstaff Auditorium, which will expand its capacity to 576 seats. That expansion, along with a sound-system update, will enhance the audience’s experience during performances and presentations, a school spokesman said.
In personnel updates, Ross Davis has become Potomac School’s new chief operating officer. Davis is a financial executive who had a 20-year career in the U.S. Air Force, culminating in three tenures as chief financial officer across the U.S. Department of Defense.
Former Head of Upper School Doug McLane, who joined the school in 2017, now will lead the admissions team as director of enrollment management and financial aid.
Head of School John Kowalik urged Potomac School’s community to let the recently concluded Olympic Games in Paris serve as a reminder of what it means to be part of something bigger than oneself.
“We have a wonderful school community at Potomac, marked by a dedicated and incredibly talented faculty and staff and an outstanding student body,” he said. “I am grateful to lead this school, where we are united by our core values; our appreciation for excellent teaching; and our belief that alongside academics, a thorough education must also emphasize character, generosity of spirit, and life skills.”
Kowalik said he looked forward to the start of school and seeing Potomac’s students and teachers again, saying their presence and energy would enliven the campus.
“I am filled with optimism for the year ahead, a year in which we will intentionally focus on what we have in common at Potomac,” he said. “By highlighting the things that unite us, we can continue to foster a connected community and strengthen that which is bigger than any one of us.”
