Updated 2:58

In a letter being sent home to parents this afternoon, Acting Chancellor Kaya Henderson will announce the selection of Dr. Mary Stefanus as the principal at Hardy Middle School. She will come to DCPS from St. Louis where she served for 30 years at both middle schools and high schools in positions ranging from teacher to dean to principal.

Stefanus was chosen from a pool of candidates from around the country to fill the opening at the Georgetown middle school, which faced another tumultuous year. Hardy's well-liked principal, Patrick Pope, was removed from his position at the close of the 2009/2010 school year. Stefanus will begin her term as principal July 5, 2011.

In the first half of the 2010/2011 year Principal Dana Nerenberg took on the role of principal at Hardy Middle School while continuing to serve in that role at Hyde-Addison Elementary. Nerenberg stepped down from that position in January and was replaced by Interim Principal Daniel Shea.

In an email obtained by Patch, one of the selection committee members writes, that Stefanus "has a history of success in fostering academic excellence at the middle school level and a very collaborative management philosophy."

"Dr. Stefanus won strong support across all elements  of the selection committee -- teachers, parents, and feeder school reps," according to the same committee member.

In Henderson's letter to parents, she details the new principal's degrees, which include: a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Health, a master’s degree in Secondary School Administration, and a doctorate in Educational Administration.

Stefanus was principal for 11 years at Hixson Middle School in Missouri. A 2008 article in the Webster Kirkwood Times said Stefanus "engineered a turnaround." Under her leadership, the school won a “Missouri Gold Star” and saw test scores rise.  She left her role as principal in June 2009, but will return to the field having accepted the role as Hardy Middle School principal this week.