Dr. Raegon B. Clutz Jr.

Pangborn Elementary School
Washington County Public Schools
Hagerstown, Maryland
[email protected]

In his seven-year career as principal, Raegon Clutz has proven himself an effective instructional and cultural leader. In his first post as a principal, Clutz was tasked with addressing the school’s overreliance on technology and its impact on student performance. In four years, Clutz led a complete overhaul of instruction, yielding rapid improvement of literacy data. When assuming the principalship at Pangborn Elementary School, where he has served as principal since 2021, Clutz encountered a failing academic and professional culture that had led to the loss of some of the school’s greatest teachers. Clutz set out to build a culture driven by love, care, and service supported by a foundation of open communication, trust, and an earnest belief in the power of collective efficacy. His efforts paid off, as retention has improved, and students are reaping the benefits. This cultural transformation has been supported by a renewed focus on community partnerships and a schoolwide commitment to servant leadership. The school now has an in-house food pantry, programs for holiday meal and gift support, ELL classes for families, parenting classes, and more. The presence of these resources is particularly impactful at Pangborn, where 100 percent of pre-K-5 students receive free or reduced-price meals. Clutz holds a B.S. from the University of Maryland, an M.S. from Hood College, and an Ed.D. from Frostburg State University.