Sixty-four outstanding elementary and middle school principals from across the nation and from U.S. schools abroad were named today as 2001 National Distinguished Principals by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). They will be honored Oct. 19 at an awards banquet at the J.W. Marriott in Washington, D.C.
"These 64 principals have created some of the best schools in the nation for their students," said Vincent Ferrandino, NAESP’s executive director. "They’ve done this by committing their professional lives to educational excellence and their personal lives to children."
The department and NAESP began the program in 1984 to recognize public and private school principals who make outstanding contributions to their schools and communities.
The distinguished principals were selected by NAESP affiliates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and by committees representing private and overseas schools. NAESP represents 28,500 U.S. elementary and middle school principals in the U.S. and overseas.
Each affiliate used its own selection process, following guidelines established by NAESP and the department for determining outstanding leadership. The guidelines include: nomination by peers; demonstrated commitment to excellence; evidence of support by students, colleagues, parents and the community; high standards and expectations for students and staff; and service as a principal for at least five years.
The National Distinguished Principals program is made possible through the corporate sponsorship of American General Financial Group/VALIC, the Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company of Houston.
NOTE TO EDITORS: A list of principals follows. For biographical information about the principals and information about the Oct. 18-19 program, or to request an interview while the principals are in Washington, call June Million at NAESP, (703) 684-3345 or 1-800-386-2377.
ALABAMA
Susan L. McRae
Baker Elementary School
8903 Airport Boulevard
Mobile, AL 36608
334/ 633-0236 |
ALASKA
Daniel C. Blanton
Talkeetna Elementary School
Post Office Box 668
Talkeetna, AK 99676
907/ 733-2252 |
ARIZONA
Elizabeth S. Goettl
Esperero Canyon Middle School
5801 N. Sabino Canyon Road
Tucson, AZ 85750
520/ 577-5330 |
ARKANSAS
Allen V. Truett McCurry
Oak Grove Elementary School
5703 Oak Grove Road
North Little Rock, AR 72118
501/ 851-5370 |
CALIFORNIA
Patricia A. Hamilton
Arbuckle Elementary School
701 Hall Street
Arbuckle, CA 95912
530/ 476-2522 |
COLORADO
Howard C. Jay
Sopris Elementary School
1150 Mount Sopris Drive
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
970/ 384-5400 |
CONNECTICUT
Anne Marie Cullinan
Ralph Carrington Elementary School
24 Kenmore Avenue
Waterbury, CT 06708
203/ 574-8184 |
DELAWARE
Juanita G. Wilson
North Dover Elementary School
855 College Road
Dover, DE 19904
302/ 672-1981 |
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Joyce L. Thompson
Marion P. Shadd Elementary School
5601 E. Capitol Street, SE
Washington, DC 20019
202/ 645-3155 |
FLORIDA
Dawn R. Hurns
Palm Springs North Elementary School
17615 NW 82nd Avenue
Hialeah, FL 33015
305/ 821-4631 |
GEORGIA
John U. Tippins, III
Oak Grove Elementary School
1857 Oak Grove Road
Atlanta, GA 30345
404/ 636-5377 |
HAWAII
Clayton J. Fujie
Noelani Elementary School
2655 Woodlawn Drive
Honolulu, HI 96822
808/ 988-1858 |
IDAHO
Stephen D. Shepperd
Sunnyside Elementary School
790 Bunker Avenue
Kellogg, ID 83837
208/ 784-1249 |
ILLINOIS
Jerry W. Vrshek
Hazelgreen Elementary School
11751 S. Lawler
Alsip, IL 60803
708/ 371-5351 |
INDIANA
Mark A. Kern
New Palestine Elementary School
4801 South 500 West
New Palestine, IN 46163
317/ 861-5287 |
IOWA
Martha A. Kingery (two schools)
Clarkesville Elementary School
318 N. Mather Street
Clarkesville, IA 50619
319/ 278-4560
and
Southeast Elementary School
809 4th Street
Waverly, IA 50677
319/ 352-3582 |
KANSAS
Kenneth R. Harshberger
Meade Elementary & Jr. High School
310 E. Grant
Meade, KS 67864
620/ 873-2671 |
KENTUCKY
Thomas D. Williams
Walton-Verona Elementary School
15066 Porter Road
Verona, KY 41092
859/ 485-4432 |
LOUISIANA
Catherine H. Segura
Avery Island Elementary School
Hwy. 329 Avery Island Road
Avery Island, LA 70513
337/ 365-5912 |
MAINE
Richard P. Colpitts
Hartford-Sumner Elementary School
145 Main Street
Sumner, ME 04292
207/ 388-2681 |
MARYLAND
Deborah S. Drown
Gorman Crossing Elementary School
9999 Winter Sun Road
Laurel, MD 20723
410/ 880-5900 |
MASSACHUSETTS
Deborah A. Drugan
General John J. Stefanik Elementary School
720 Meadow Street
Chicopee, MA 01013
413/ 594-3463 |
MASSACHUSETTS
Roger F. Harris
The Boston Renaissance Charter School
250 Stuart Street
Boston, MA 02116
617/ 357-0900 |
MICHIGAN
Lloyd C. Lewis
Forest Elementary School
34545 Old Timber Road
Farmington Hills, MI 48331
248/ 489-3688 |
MINNESOTA
Byron L. Schwab
Pilot Knob Elementary School
1436 Lone Oak Road
Eagan, MN 55121
651/ 405-2789 |
MISSISSIPPI
Mary Ann Stevens
East Jones Elementary School
108 Northeast Drive
Laurel, MS 39443
601/ 425-9799 |
MISSOURI
Michael J. Otto
Graden Elementary School
8804 Highway 45
Parkville, MO 64152
816/ 741-1531 |
MONTANA
Keith Kohnke
Sandstone Elementary School
1440 Nutter Boulevard
Billings, MT 59105
406/ 255-3882 |
NEBRASKA
Steve G. Wilson
Centura Elementary School
201 North Hwy 11
Cairo, NE 68824
308/ 485-4465 |
NEVADA
James B. Rowe
Lovelock and Imlay Elementary Schools
1100 Harvard Way
Lovelock, NV 89419
775/ 273-2176 |
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Ben Augello
Center Woods Elementary School
14 Center Road
Weare, NH 03281
603/ 529-4500 |
NEW JERSEY
Laurence R. Fieber
Parkway Elementary School
446 Parkway Avenue
Ewing, NJ 08618
609/ 538-9800 |
NEW MEXICO
Denise D. Potter
Riverside Elementary School
1600 Johnson
Carlsbad, NM 88220
505/ 234-3312 |
NEW YORK
Maureen A. Patterson
Craven Crawford Elementary School
195 Blackberry Road
Liverpool, NY 13090
315/ 453-1239 |
NORTH CAROLINA
Deborah E. Parker
Sunset Park Elementary School
613 Alabama Avenue
Wilmington, NC 28401
910/ 815-6948 |
NORTH DAKOTA
Mary C. Otto
Jefferson Elementary School
1150 Central Avenue
Valley City, ND 58072
701/ 845-0622 |
OHIO
John R. Giles
Hinckley Elementary School
1586 Center Road
Hinckley, OH 44233
330/ 278-2727 |
OKLAHOMA
Jean D. Hendrickson
Mark Twain Elementary School
2451 W. Main Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73107
405/ 232-3724 |
OREGON
Phillip K. Meager
Hoover Elementary School
333 Holmes Avenue
Medford, OR 97504
541/ 776-8826 |
OREGON
Robert C. Dais
Hood River Middle School
1602 May Street
Hood River, OR 97031
541/ 386-2114 |
PENNSYLVANIA
Richard A. Sternberg
Grandview Elementary School
845 McLain Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15210
412/ 488-6605 |
RHODE ISLAND
Douglas H. Pierson
Hamilton Elementary School
25 Salisbury Avenue
North Kingstown, RI 02852
401/ 268-6520 |
SOUTH CAROLINA
Jeffery Todd White
Mitchell Road Elementary School
4124 East North Street
Greenville, SC 29615
864/ 292-7737 |
SOUTH CAROLINA
Jeanne F. Stiglbauer
Hand Middle School
2600 Wheat Street
Columbia, SC 29205
803/ 343-2947 |
SOUTH DAKOTA
Richard D. Brubakken
Medary Elementary School
718 Fifth Street South
Brookings, SD 57006
605/ 696-4300 |
TENNESSEE
James A. Ratledge
Montvale Elementary School
3128 Montvale Road
Maryville, TN 37803
865/ 983-2666 |
TEXAS
Karen E. Holt
South Houston Elementary School
900 Main Street
South Houston, TX 77587
713/ 948-4757 |
UTAH
Gene T. Klatt
Highland Park Elementary School
1738 East 2700 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
801/ 481-4833 |
VERMONT
Vincent J. Messina (three schools)
Lincoln, Adams and Summer Street Elementary Schools
506 Summer Street
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
802/ 748-8761 or 802/ 748-1097 |
VIRGINIA
Nancy M. Moga
Callaghan Elementary School
4018 Midland Trail Road
Covington, VA 24426
540/ 965-1810 |
WASHINGTON
Larry D. Pollock
Juanita Elementary School
9635 NE 132nd Street
Kirkland, WA 98034
425/ 823-8136 |
WEST VIRGINIA
Brenda J. Valentine
Kanawha City Elementary School
3601 Staunton Avenue, SE
Charleston, WV 25304
304/ 348-1985 |
WISCONSIN
C. John Hanold
Magee Elementary School
W313S4134 Hwy 83
P.O. Box 37
Genesee Depot, WI 53127
262/ 968-6450 |
WYOMING
Betsy R. Sell (two schools)
Sunset Elementary School
1520 21st Street
Cody, WY 82414
307/ 587-4279
and
Wapiti Elementary School
3167 Northfork Highway
Cody, WY 82414
307/ 587-3947 |
