Frederick County Public Schools Interim Superintendent John Lamanna has named Benjamin Thompson the new principal at the Dowell J. Howard Center. Thompson succeeds Jan Ball-Brooks who recently accepted a position in Danville after serving as the principal at the Dowell J. Howard Center since July 2009.

Thompson is in his ninth year with Frederick County Public Schools. Since August, he has served as an assistant principal at James Wood Middle School. From July 2016 until August 2022, he worked as the assistant director of student support services. From 2014-2016, he served as an assistant principal at the Dowell J. Howard Center. Prior to coming to work for Frederick County Public Schools, Thompson spent seven years working in Loudoun County Public Schools as a health and physical education teacher at Belmont Ridge Middle School (2005-2007), a health and physical education department chair at Stone Hill Middle School (2007-2011), and an interim grade level dean (2009-2011, as needed) and grade level dean at Stone Hill Middle School (2011-2014).

Lamanna says, “We are excited to name Mr. Thompson the new principal at the Dowell J. Howard Center. His familiarity with the center and its staff will be beneficial as he transitions into his new role and works collaboratively with his team to build upon the many successes the center has achieved over the years.”Thompson has a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Shenandoah University.