Martin mentioned it briefly in the roundup already, but we’re saddened to hear about the death of Brian Betts, 42, who was the principal of Shaw Middle School at Garnet-Patterson. Betts was found dead in his Silver Spring home Thursday night by a co-worker, who had gone to check on him after he failed to show up for work that day.

Police are calling the death suspicious, and WTOP is citing law enforcement sources who believe Betts’ death will be ruled a homicide. Betts’ car is also missing. Police are asking for the public’s help in locating the dark blue Nissan Xterra that belonged to Betts. It has Maryland license plates: 562M222.

Betts used to work in the Montgomery County school system, and was recruited to run Shaw by Michelle Rhee a couple years back. In 2008, the Washington Post’s Jay Mathews wrote a story about the aggressive changes Betts was making to the school.