Title: Principal
Company: Ballou Senior High School
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States
Dr. William Haith, principal at Ballou Senior High School, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in education administration.
Growing up, Dr. Haith dreamed of numerous possible future careers, from being a special agent to becoming a professional football player with the Washington Commanders (formerly the Washington Redskins), whose camp he once spent time training at. Little did he know, his true path would become clear when he saw a simple slogan written across a T-shirt worn by a coach at a track meet: “Her superpower is teaching.” That statement resonated with Dr. Haith to such a degree that it moved him toward what has blossomed into a career of more than 20 years. He has held his current role as principal of Ballou Senior High School since 2023.
Previously serving as principal at Anacostia High School and Kelly Miller Middle School and as assistant principal at Jackson-Reed High School (formerly Woodrow Wilson High School), Dr. Haith takes great pride in supporting educators. He prioritizes cultivating a strong learning environment by encouraging teacher development, highlighting culturally relevant lesson plans and implementing trauma-informed education practices. Dr. Haith’s dedication to students has been reflected in their results; Ballou Senior High School has achieved a 30% increase in students passing ninth grade and a significant boost in in-seat attendance and graduation rates since he joined the school. He firmly believes that strong leadership has led to deeper engagement from both teachers and students, reinforcing the institution’s overall ecosystem toward stable, successful outcomes.
When he accepted his first administrative role as assistant vice principal in 2014, Dr. Haith was realizing the culmination of a 13-year tenure with Jackson-Reed High School. He initially joined the school as a teacher and coach in 2004. Just two years later, Dr. Haith was asked to take over the position of dean of students, demonstrating his unmistakable aptitude for leadership. He also spent several years as an information technology coordinator for Jackson-Reed High School before becoming the assistant principal.
Dr. Haith first sought his own education through a Bachelor of Science in management information systems in 2003 and a Master of Business Administration in international business in 2008, both from Liberty University. Subsequently, he obtained a Master of Science in cyber, computer forensics and counterterrorism from Virginia College in 2011 and an executive master’s degree in leadership from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University in 2020. Dr. Haith returned to Liberty University to earn a Doctor of Education in urban education and leadership in 2025. He has been a member of the Council of School Officers for one year.
Dr. Haith has been celebrated for his achievements through a variety of accolades. He was named a Highly Effective Assistant Principal by Anacostia High School in 2015 and a Highly Effective Principal by the same institution in 2021 and 2022. In 2019, Dr. Haith won the School-Based Standing Ovation Excellence Award in Whole Child Approach from District of Columbia Public Schools, followed by the Standing Ovation Excellence Award for High School Principal of the Year in 2022. His greatest career highlight came in 2022, when Anacostia High School won an Emmy Award for Best High School Documentary Over 10 Minutes for a documentary following students through the post-pandemic redesign of the school.
Beyond his esteemed professional life, Dr. Haith is a devoted father to two children. Outside of work hours, he relaxes by running, reading and playing video games, especially Call of Duty. While Dr. Haith continues his commitment to improving Ballou Senior High School, he also aspires to become a school district superintendent in the future. He views this step as a natural evolution of his career that will allow him to continue supporting educators, schools and students on an even wider scale.
For more information, please visit:
District of Columbia Public Schools Profile
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