In an email sent to the family and friends of JC, President Richard O’Hara announced that Principal Madelyn Ball will be resigning at the end of the year.

“This was a family-based decision,” Ball said. “I always told teachers when their spouse or children were sick to keep their priorities straight, and it was time for me to listen to my own advice: God first, family second, and job third.”

Ball, a Baltimore city native, wanted to be near her two daughters and grandchildren who live in Baltimore and Montgomery counties.

This year has been especially difficult for Ball due to challenges throughout the year. In addition, the 60-70 hour work weeks became too much. However, she does not plan to retire and wants to pursue a principal position in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

According to O’Hara’s email, the school will make appropriate arrangements to thank Principal Ball for her service.

O’Hara was not available for comment, but according to his email the school will proceed to transition into new leadership, and O’Hara plans to give regular updates and involve members of the community in the search process.

Five years ago, when Ball came in to interview, the process was rigorous, and she expects the interview process to be the same for the next principal as well. In her interview process, she spent a day and a half interviewing with people from all different groups at JC, including the entire faculty and members of the student body.

Ball’s career originally started in the public school system. She went on to work at Our Lady of Good Counsel high school as the assistant principal for 20 years. This tenure ended when her mother fell ill and Ball moved to Catholic High to be closer to her. She was the principal at Catholic High for a year before coming to JC

“I really missed the co-ed school, and I knew the position at JC was open, so I wrote a letter before the position was even publicized,” Ball said.

Ball believes that she must be fully devoted to the school’s mission or it would be hard for her to be part of the school. “Mrs. Ball is someone who has a deep faith, and she has always treated me with kindness and respect, and that, coupled with a very good sense of humor, has made working with her enjoyable,” Vice Principal of Academics Gary Scholl said.

Now, feeling distant from her family, Ball is again moving. She has been contemplating the move for the majority of the year. “I didn’t have the same passion as I had before” Ball said.

However, Ball will miss being in the hallways, seeing the students working, and all the advancements the school is making in the FLEX program and the Mission and Ministry office.

“I’ll miss seeing the students the most, all the tremendous work the students do, how involved they are, and [how] supportive [they are] of the school,” Ball said.

The Patriot will continue to cover major developments and the search for the new principal.

Kishan Patel is the Online Editor in Chief of The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.