Irma E. Johnson, profiled this week by Classroom Connections, is state principal of the year, representing Maryland in the national distinguished principals competition. Only as of this weekend, she won't be a principal anymore.

Johnson has led Dallas F. Nicholas Sr. Elementary for the past decade, turning the school into a bright spot in a violent and impoverished community, a place where children are matching or outperforming their wealthier peers in the suburbs. On Tuesday night, just hours after this blog posted a feature on Johnson, the school board promoted her to be an "area academic officer," overseeing a group of 30 elementary schools, Dallas Nicholas among them. She'll replace Suzanne Cutter, who retired in March. Board documents say Johnson's new position is effective May 26, which would be, um, Saturday.

Promotions are supposed to be a time for celebration, but some education advocates are sad to see Johnson moving on. Principals who produce the kind of results she has are few and far between in a city like Baltimore. Here's hoping her replacement at Dallas Nicholas will sustain the momentum she built.