Michael Thomas, formerly principal of Westbrook Elementary School, began his new position as head of the George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy, Inc., as of February 7, 2005. As “principal on special assignment,” Thomas will direct the 10 academies -- also known as “Saturday Schools” -- located at 10 Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) high schools. The free Saturday morning programs provide enrichment, tutoring, and mentoring for students in Grades 1-12.

Eugene Haines, a retired principal, will serve as acting principal at Westbrook Elementary School.

Thomas, who has been principal of Westbrook since 1996, also has been an assistant principal at Poolesville High School and Montgomery Village Middle School, and a teacher at Mark Twain School and William Tyler Page Elementary School.

About 2,000 students attend Saturday Schools programs. This school year, new Saturday Schools at Albert Einstein and Watkins Mill high schools joined eight others at Montgomery Blair, Gaithersburg, John F. Kennedy, Northwest, Paint Branch, Sherwood, Springbrook, and Wheaton high schools.