DoDEA

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA — February 2, 2006 — The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) proudly announces the selection of Dr. Ellen Minette, Principal, Heidelberg Middle School, Heidelberg Germany, as the 2006 DoDEA Principal of the Year for the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) for Middle and High School.

Dr. Minette has worked tirelessly to provide an environment within which each student can succeed. "In a personalized school, more rigor can be expected of students. To add such rigor, I challenge the teachers to instill in each student a belief in one of my favorite mantras, 'What you are learning is important; you can do it; and I will never give up on you'. When children feel that the teacher and the school care about their learning, they respond," says Minette.

Prior to becoming principal at Heidelberg High School, Dr. Minette served as Assistant Principal at Manheim Elementary and Middle Schools, at Heidelberg and Ludwigsburg Middle Schools, and at Patch High School in the Bavaria District. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University in Long Beach, a Master of Education degree from Boston University, and Master and Doctorate degrees in Education from Columbia University Teachers College.

The Principal of the Year Program, which began in 1993, is sponsored by the NASSP and the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife) as a means to recognize outstanding middle level and high school principals. This program honors secondary school principals who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students as well as their exemplary contributions to the profession.

One middle/high school level principal is selected from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity. From these state winners, six finalists are selected (3 middle level, 3 high school) to become eligible for the National Principal of the Year award.

MetLife and NASSP will present each state winner with an award during their annual Principal's Institute and Awards Banquet held in Washington, D.C. The National Principals of the Year (1 middle level, 1 high school) will receive a $5,000 grant and the four finalists will be awarded a $1,500 grant.

"We are so very proud that this recognition has been bestowed upon Dr. Minette," says Dr. Elizabeth Middlemiss, Associate Director for Education and Principal Deputy Director for DoDEA, "She is an outstanding professional in the field of education and embodies the DoDEA mission to provide, in military communities worldwide, exemplary educational programs that inspire and prepare all students for success in a global environment."