With the January 1 retirement of assistant principal Kimberly Jackson, Lightridge found itself having to do a mid-year search for a new AP. After a hiring process that had over forty candidates, Lightridge welcomed Mahlet Abdalla as its new assistant principal. Abdalla took over Jackson’s previous duties at the end of January.
“I have always wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl,” said Abdalla. During her high school years, she discovered a deep interest in history, and that’s when she realized that becoming a teacher was what she wanted to do. She earned her bachelor’s degree in history, a master’s degree in education, and immediately jumped into teaching.
Though she had initially planned to enter administration after five years, her passion for teaching kept her in the classroom for fifteen years before pursuing educational leadership.
“I fell so much in love with teaching,” she said, “and when the time was right for me and my family, I felt like it was the best time for me to transition into educational leadership.”
Abdalla spent years at Broad Run High School teaching in the classroom and running summer school and credit recovery programs. She also led professional development and served as an equity lead. Her experience and skills helped her stand out during the selection process.
“She just came extremely confident, very engaged, and looking forward to this next step in her leadership journey,” said Principal Dr. Hitchman.
The position was secured through a standardized interview process at the Central Office. A committee of administrators, teachers, HRTD representatives, and the executive principal interviewed the candidates using the same set of questions to ensure a fair comparison. There were 43 applicants for the role. After narrowing the list and ranking the top three finalists, the committee selected Abdalla.
Starting midway through a school year, Abdalla has been adjusting to her new role, reviewing the yearbook, reading newsletters, and exploring presentations to learn more about the school and its community.
“My goal is to learn the layout of this huge school,” she added. “I’ve never worked in a multi-level school, so I’m getting familiar with the building and meeting new faces.”
Abdalla has been a die-hard Boston Celtics fan since she was a child. Born and raised here, Abdalla had no ties to New England or Massachusetts, but watching Paul Pierce play sparked a love for the team that has stayed with her ever since.
She is excited to be at Lightridge and describes her style as very student-centered, with a focus on inspiring them to be the best version of themselves. As she is navigating the halls and meeting new faces, she hopes to make a meaningful impact across the school.
“I love fist bumps,” she said. “When you see me, come say hi and get one!”
