2017 NATIONAL DISTINGUISHED PRINCIPALS PROGRAM, 2017

NAESP is pleased to feature the 2017 National Distinguished Principals (NDPs), individuals who exemplify the highest attributes of the elementary and middle-level principalship and who demonstrate significant career accomplishments; dedication to education; exemplary leadership; high standards for instruction and student achievement; and lasting contributions to their entire school communities.

This prestigious program, established in 1984, promotes and celebrates excellence in educational leadership for pre-K-8 education, and it highlights the fundamental importance of elementary and middle-level principals as primary catalysts for creating a lasting foundation for learning, driving school and student performance, and for shaping the long-term impact of school improvement.

Each class of NDPs includes principals who lead elementary and middle-level schools in both the public and private sectors and the U.S. Department of State American Overseas Schools. The individuals representing public schools are initially nominated by their peers and colleagues in their home state. Final selections are made by executives and volunteer leaders of NAESP’s state-affiliated associations. Special committees select principals from among those nominated by private education associations and from the schools affiliated with the U.S. Department of State American Overseas Schools and the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity.

Nomination and selection criteria, established by NAESP, require, among other factors, that the NDP candidate is a practicing principal of a school that (1) is clearly committed to excellence; (2) has programs designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students; and (3) has firm ties to parents and the school community. Candidates must show evidence of outstanding contributions to the community and the education profession. Visit www.naesp.org for additional details.

ABOUT NAESP

NAESP, founded in 1921, is a professional association serving elementary and middle school leaders in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through a network of affiliated associations.

2017 National Distinguished Principals Representing Public Schools

Julie G. Pierce Lisa L. Vrvilo Christine Bonow Annette Freeman Fairhope Elementary School Cottonwood Creek School Redfield Elementary School Gene George Elementary Baldwin County Public Schools Matanuska-Susitna Borough Scottsdale Unified School District Springdale School District Fairhope, Alabama School District Scottsdale, Arizona Springdale, Arkansas Wasilla, Alaska

Kelli Dawn McGaha-Martin Scott M. Borba Tobey Cho Bassoff Carla A. Armistead Greenbrier Middle School Alice N. Stroud Elementary School Ryan Elementary STEAM School Chapel Street School Greenbrier School District Empire Union School District Boulder Valley School District Stratford Public Schools Greenbrier, Arkansas Modesto, California Lafayette, Colorado Stratford, Connecticut

Becky Neubert Margaret M. Gunderson Cynthia J. Hammond Lori Joiner Central Elementary Millennium Middle School Westside Elementary Risley Middle School Seaford School District Seminole County Public Schools Houston County Schools Glynn County Schools Seaford, Delaware Sanford, Florida Perry, Georgia Brunswick, Georgia

2017 National Distinguished Principals Nelson R. Shigeta Tina Jo Fehringer Michelle R. Willis Davin E. Harpe Makaha Elementary School Hillcrest Elementary School Gillespie Tech Elementary School Sugar Grove Elementary Leeward District American Falls School District Chicago Public Schools Center Grove Community Waianae, Hawaii American Falls, Idaho Chicago, Illinois School Corporation Greenwood,

James F. Murray Dana J. Sprinkle Dana L. Blankenship Jennifer Ann McGee Tilford Elementary School Ell-Saline Elementary Peaks Mill Elementary Atwood Primary School Vinton-Shellsburg Community USD 307 Franklin County Schools RSU 18 School District Salina, Kansas Frankfort, Oakland, Maine Vinton, Iowa

Michael L. Browne Christopher J. Getchell Amy J. Taranko Jessica Cabeen Pocomoke Elementary School Parkview Elementary School Spitler Elementary Woodson Kindergarten Center Worcester County Public Schools Easton Public Schools Hart Public Schools Austin Public Schools Pocomoke, Maryland Easton, Massachusetts Hart, Michigan Austin, Minnesota

Melissa Wise Philley Janell R. Bagwell Susan Sweeney Ann Smith Elementary Eugene Field Elementary Broadwater Elementary School Madison County School District Springfield Public Schools Helena School District Ridgeland, Mississippi Springfield, Missouri Helena, Montana

2017 National Distinguished Principals Kathleen R. Mathews Sarah A. Popek Kimberly Yarlott Michael S. Fournier Park Elementary School Myrtle Tate Elementary School Reeds Ferry School McKelvie Intermediate School Kearney Public Schools Clark County School District Merrimack School District Bedford School District Kearney, Nebraska Las Vegas, Nevada Merrimack, New Hampshire Bedford, New Hampshire

Tammy B. Jenkins Robyn Cook Jeremy M. Rich Mary Beth Fierro Sunnymead Elementary School Cloudcroft Elementary School Barringer Road Elementary School Oswego Middle School Hillsborough Township Cloudcroft School District Central Valley Central Oswego City School District School District Cloudcroft, New Mexico School District Oswego, New York Hillsborough, New Jersey Ilion, New York

Jason C. Griffin Cindy Cook Rhonda N. Peeples Robbie K. Holder Hertford Grammar School Sunnyside Elementary School Weinland Park Elementary L. Mendel Rivers Perquimans County Schools Minot Publics Schools Columbus City Schools Altus Public School District Hertford, Minot, North Dakota Columbus, Altus, Oklahoma

Kelly Soter Steven M. Smith Donna M. Coderre Jackson Elementary School Eden Hall Upper Elementary Leo A. Savoie Elementary School Medford School District Pine-Richland School District Woonsocket School District Medford, Oregon Gibsonia, Woonsocket, Rhode Island

2017 National Distinguished Principals Denise L. Barth Kim M. Johnson Amy C. Downey Kevin Armstrong Catawba Trail Elementary School Austin Elementary Charlotte Park Elementary School DuPont Hadley Middle Prep Richland School District Two Vermillion School District Metro Nashville Public Schools Metropolitan Nashville Elgin, Vermillion, South Dakota Nashville, Public Schools Old Hickory, Tennessee

Lois Annette Dailey Todd A. Theobald William S. Hammond Hamish M. Brewer Crenshaw Elementary and Majestic Elementary Marion Cross School Occoquan Elementary Middle School Jordan School District Norwich School District Prince William County Galveston ISD West Jordan, Utah Norwich, Vermont Public Schools Crystal Beach, Texas Woodbridge,

Adina T. Brito Jennifer A. Cox Daniel H. Westfahl Breez Longwell Daniels Evergreen Elementary Skyview Elementary Brookfield Elementary School Thermopolis Middle School Shelton School District Monongalia County Schools Elmbrook School District Hot Springs County Shelton, Washington Morgantown, Brookfield, Wisconsin School District #1 Thermopolis, Wyoming

2017 National Distinguished Principals Representing Private Schools

Gayle R. Renken Kenneth J. Willers Phyllis Cavallone-Jurek St. Timothy’s Christian Academy School of the Madeleine St. Therese Chinese Catholic Evangelical Lutheran Education Diocese of Oakland School Association Berkeley, California Chicago Archdiocese San Jose, California Chicago, Illinois

Patrick M. O’Sullivan Michael J. Yurk Christ the King Catholic School St. Paul Lutheran School Diocese of Dallas Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Dallas, Texas Grafton, Wisconsin

Representing U.S. Representing U.S. Department of State Department of Defense American Overseas Schools Education Activity

Andrea L. Rosinger Elsa H. Donohue Michelle A. Moore-Robinson Frankfurt International School Jakarta Intercultural School Kinser Elementary School U.S. Department of State- Office of U.S. Department of State- Office of Department of Defense Education Overseas Schools Overseas Schools Activity Wiesbaden-Naurod, Germany Cilandak, Jakarta, Indonesia Okinawa, Japan

2017 National Distinguished Principals