ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Alexandria City High School has a new leader. Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt introduced Michael Burch, a longtime ACPS administrator, as the next principal of the largest high school in Virginia during Thursday’s School Board meeting.
Burch’s hiring came through the board’s consent calendar of personnel actions, which passed unanimously, and Kay-Wyatt announced his selection during her remarks. Burch, appearing by video, briefly addressed the board, saying he was honored to serve as the school’s next principal. He starts July 1, the date set in the district’s principal-search timeline, which lists June 11 as the final-approval date, moved from an original target of May 28.
Burch steps into a role that has seen repeated turnover. According to ACPS, the school had operated without a permanent leader since July 2025, when Executive Principal Alexander Duncan III left after two years to become principal of Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington. Duncan had himself replaced Peter Balas, who also departed for an Arlington school. Lance Harrell served as acting executive principal this year and will return to his previous post; Kay-Wyatt thanked him at Thursday’s meeting for guiding the school through the year…