Welcome University Park Eagle Families and Community Members

Greetings University Park Eagles,

Words cannot express how excited I am to be writing this introductory letter to you. My name is Justin FitzGerald and I will be the proud new principal of University Park Elementary starting July 1st. Before explaining who I am and why I am so excited to be writing this letter, I want to recognize and applaud Dr. Toi Davis for her extraordinary career as an educator and helping lead University Park over the last 12 years. I wish her all the best in her retirement and future endeavors.

In coming to University Park, I come to you beaming with happiness, for returning to Prince George’s County feels like I am coming home. I started my career teaching in PGCPS at Bradbury Heights Elementary in Capitol Heights, followed by more teaching experience at Hollywood Elementary in College Park. While there, I began pursuing my Master’s Degree in Elementary Education Administration with an emphasis on Instruction at McDaniel College. I spent a brief amount of time as an Assistant Principal at Glenarden Woods Elementary in Glenarden, which then led to me being appointed Principal at Bond Mill Elementary in Laurel. I spent 15 incredible years at Bond Mill. From there, I was provided an opportunity to work in the Howard County Public School System. My first two years in HCPSS were spent as the Principal of Guilford Elementary School in Columbia, followed by being appointed as the Director of Schools for Area 1 for three years and the final two years as the Director of Student Well-Being. And now, I am coming home to PGCPS and the phenomenal University Park Elementary.

As I join the University Park community, I come to you excited to build relationships, communicate effectively, and work tirelessly with you to help our students achieve academically and socially. If there is one thing I have learned over my thirty years in education, it is that for a school to be successful, it must be grounded in teamwork. Every University Park student, staff member, parent, and community member is a vital contributor to our team, of which I am overjoyed to work with.

I look forward to us getting down to work and having a spectacular 2026-2027 school year. If you are available on July 15th from 1pm-3pm, I invite you to attend a Popsicle with the Principal event at University Park. Parents, students, family members, and staff are all welcome to come, so that I can have the opportunity to meet you in person, while we enjoy popsicles. Have a great ending to the school year and I will see you soon!

Sincerely,

Justin FitzGerald

Open House Video

While this video is from a previous school year there is still helpful information you can learn from it.