A Montgomery County high school is grieving the death of its beloved principal, just weeks before the start of the school year.
Michael Doran, principal of Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville, Maryland, has died, Montgomery County Public Schools announced Wednesday.
Doran was found unresponsive in his apartment in Bethesda Wednesday morning, Interim Superintendent Larry Bowers said in a letter to families. His cause of death has not been determined.
"Dr. Doran was an exceptional principal who spent the past 12 years providing outstanding leadership to the students, staff and parents of Thomas S. Wootton High School," Bowers said. "He was a shining example of what a school leader should be and was an unapologetic advocate for his students."
Doran, 64, was originally from Ireland and is survived by his wife and two adult children, The Washington Post reported.
Congressman Chris Van Hollen said he was saddened by news of the loss.
"His dedication to bettering the lives of his students lifted our entire community, and he left a permanent mark on Wootton High School and every student who passed through its hallways," he said in a statement.
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Wootton High suffered another devastating loss this summer -- two recent graduates of the school, both 18, were killed in a car crash June 25 after they left a party.
Grief counselors will be available at the school Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A celebration of Doran's life will be held in the school's stadium Friday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Bowsers said school leaders will work to start the school year on time.
