Barb Peterson Smith is fiercely enthusiastic and working hard with her new employees and a battalion of "amazing" volunteers to insure that Middleburg's Community Charter School is in tip top shape for opening day August 4th.

"When I drove out to Middleburg for the interview for principal after a day of interviews in Washington, D.C., I really thought I was simply going to enjoy a relaxing ride in this beautiful country to clear my head."

After her meeting with the new charter school's search committee, which she described as the most intelligent group of dedicated recruiters she had ever met, she was convinced that she had found the ideal position.

"Helping build a charter school from the ground up is an educator's dream," she explained. "But to build one for a community that would mount such a determined grass roots effort to make their charter school possible is a truly exceptional opportunity."

Smith comes with experience leading and teaching in public, private, international, independent and charter schools in Canada, Belgium and the United States.

She's served as principal of The William E. Doar Public Charter School for the Performing Arts, a Washington, DC, Charter school since 2012, and worked as an educational consultant through F1 Innovations for Education since 2010.

"I've taught at the University of Toronto, University of Saskatchewan and McGill University and I've published extensively about innovative and exceptional practices in education so I feel well prepared and honored to help create a truly exceptional charter school for Middleburg."

Susana Calley, member of the Middleburg Community Charter School Board of Directors, described Smith as a curriculum expert with a reputation for being an excellent mentor for teachers.

"We thought those were the two keys to make this a successful school, especially from the beginning," Calley said. "We couldn't have found anyone better to help us introduce something new and innovative."

Smith will help shape the school's foundation, with a project-based, interdisciplinary curriculum. She began her post almost immediately to help the board of directors hire the school's team of teachers.

As the first and only charter school in Loudoun County, Middleburg Community Charter School will begin classes with 122 registered students.

"From the very beginning of our research and planning for Middleburg's Charter School, we knew there were many aspects of attaining approval that would be difficult," explained Middleburg Charter Committee Co-Chair Dave Quanbeck, 'But we were all convinced that we could make an excellent case for our school."

"Interest in the Middleburg Community Charter School has been beyond our wildest expectations," according to Smith. "Even those who were passionate advocates of converting the 104 year old Middleburg Elementary School into a charter school were surprised and immensely pleased."

More than 170 students applied from more than 40 different schools and the board of directors held a lottery to narrow enrollment to 122 students.

"It is surprising and very gratifying that there is so much interest in the school," said Quanbeck, who is now the first president of the board of directors. "Our enrollment number is far beyond what the School Board required."

The Middleburg Community Charter School will operate as a public charter school, funded through an approximately $11,700-per pupil allotment from Loudoun County Public Schools, as well as grants and donations through a newly formed endowment.

"There is no question that Dave's dedication to this initiative and the commitment of the initial committee is responsible for our ability to begin the Middleburg Community Charter School," noted Barb Smith. "I feel exceptionally fortunate to have their support at my back as we bring a new education opportunity to Loudoun County."

"I intend to use everything I've learned about learning systems that really work to Middleburg's charter school and, together with this wonderful community and our dedicated board, I am confident that we will open a new era of education in what was one of the smallest elementary schools in Virginia."

"As Sir Ken Robinson, the highly respected educator, says in his Ted Talk, we must prepare our children for a future of immense creativity and re-think our school programs to acknowledge multiple types of intelligence."

"He and I believe that we must nurture rather than undermine creativity…. We believe that creativity is as important as literacy."

"I believe every one of our students at Middleburg Community Charter School deserves a nurturing education, and I am absolutely delighted to help provide that at Middleburg Community Charter School."