2017

2017 National Distinguished Principals

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

Kelli Dawn McGaha-MartinGreenbrier Middle SchoolGreenbrier School District

Greenbrier, Arkansas

Representing Public Schools

Julie G. PierceFairhope Elementary School

Baldwin County Public SchoolsFairhope, Alabama

Annette FreemanGene George ElementarySpringdale School District

Springdale, Arkansas

Lisa L. VrviloCottonwood Creek School

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School DistrictWasilla, Alaska

Scott M. BorbaAlice N. Stroud Elementary School

Empire Union School District Modesto, California

Christine BonowRedfield Elementary School

Scottsdale Unified School DistrictScottsdale, Arizona

Tobey Cho BassoffRyan Elementary STEAM School

Boulder Valley School DistrictLafayette, Colorado

Carla A. Armistead Chapel Street School

Stratford Public SchoolsStratford, Connecticut

Becky Neubert Central Elementary

Seaford School DistrictSeaford, Delaware

Margaret M. GundersonMillennium Middle School

Seminole County Public SchoolsSanford, Florida

Cynthia J. HammondWestside Elementary

Houston County SchoolsPerry, Georgia

Lori JoinerRisley Middle School

Glynn County SchoolsBrunswick, Georgia

2017 National Distinguished Principals

Nelson R. ShigetaMakaha Elementary School

Leeward DistrictWaianae, Hawaii

Tina Jo FehringerHillcrest Elementary School

American Falls School DistrictAmerican Falls, Idaho

Michelle R. Willis Gillespie Tech Elementary School

Chicago Public SchoolsChicago, Illinois

Amy J. TarankoSpitler Elementary

Hart Public SchoolsHart, Michigan

Jessica CabeenWoodson Kindergarten Center

Austin Public SchoolsAustin, Minnesota

Melissa Wise PhilleyAnn Smith Elementary

Madison County School DistrictRidgeland, Mississippi

Janell R. BagwellEugene Field ElementarySpringfield Public Schools

Springfield, Missouri

Davin E. HarpeSugar Grove Elementary

Center Grove Community School CorporationGreenwood, Indiana

James F. MurrayTilford Elementary School

Vinton-Shellsburg Community School DistrictVinton, Iowa

Dana J. SprinkleEll-Saline Elementary

USD 307Salina, Kansas

Dana L. BlankenshipPeaks Mill Elementary

Franklin County SchoolsFrankfort, Kentucky

Christopher J. GetchellParkview Elementary School

Easton Public SchoolsEaston, Massachusetts

Michael L. BrownePocomoke Elementary School

Worcester County Public SchoolsPocomoke, Maryland

Susan SweeneyBroadwater Elementary School

Helena School DistrictHelena, Montana

Jennifer Ann McGeeAtwood Primary School

RSU 18Oakland, Maine

2017 National Distinguished Principals

Kathleen R. MathewsPark Elementary SchoolKearney Public Schools

Kearney, Nebraska

Sarah A. PopekMyrtle Tate Elementary SchoolClark County School District

Las Vegas, Nevada

Kimberly YarlottReeds Ferry School

Merrimack School DistrictMerrimack, New Hampshire

Rhonda N. PeeplesWeinland Park Elementary

Columbus City SchoolsColumbus, Ohio

Robbie K. HolderL. Mendel Rivers

Altus Public School DistrictAltus, Oklahoma

Kelly Soter Jackson Elementary School

Medford School DistrictMedford, Oregon

Steven M. SmithEden Hall Upper ElementaryPine-Richland School District

Gibsonia, Pennsylvania

Michael S. FournierMcKelvie Intermediate School

Bedford School DistrictBedford, New Hampshire

Tammy B. JenkinsSunnymead Elementary School

Hillsborough Township School District

Hillsborough, New Jersey

Robyn CookCloudcroft Elementary School

Cloudcroft School DistrictCloudcroft, New Mexico

Jeremy M. RichBarringer Road Elementary School

Central Valley Central School DistrictIlion, New York

Cindy CookSunnyside Elementary School

Minot Publics SchoolsMinot, North Dakota

Jason C. GriffinHertford Grammar School

Perquimans County SchoolsHertford, North Carolina

Donna M. Coderre Leo A. Savoie Elementary School

Woonsocket School DistrictWoonsocket, Rhode Island

Mary Beth FierroOswego Middle School

Oswego City School DistrictOswego, New York

2017 National Distinguished Principals

Denise L. BarthCatawba Trail Elementary School

Richland School District TwoElgin, South Carolina

Kim M. JohnsonAustin Elementary

Vermillion School DistrictVermillion, South Dakota

Amy C. DowneyCharlotte Park Elementary School

Metro Nashville Public SchoolsNashville, Tennessee

Daniel H. WestfahlBrookfield Elementary School

Elmbrook School DistrictBrookfield, Wisconsin

Breez Longwell DanielsThermopolis Middle School

Hot Springs County School District #1

Thermopolis, Wyoming

Kevin ArmstrongDuPont Hadley Middle Prep

Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools

Old Hickory, Tennessee

Lois Annette DaileyCrenshaw Elementary and

Middle SchoolGalveston ISD

Crystal Beach, Texas

Todd A. TheobaldMajestic Elementary

Jordan School DistrictWest Jordan, Utah

William S. HammondMarion Cross School

Norwich School DistrictNorwich, Vermont

Jennifer A. CoxSkyview Elementary

Monongalia County SchoolsMorgantown, West Virginia

Adina T. BritoEvergreen ElementaryShelton School District

Shelton, Washington

Hamish M. BrewerOccoquan ElementaryPrince William County

Public SchoolsWoodbridge, Virginia

2017 National Distinguished Principals

Representing Private Schools

Representing U.S. Department of State

American Overseas Schools

Andrea L. RosingerFrankfurt International School

U.S. Department of State- Office of Overseas Schools

Wiesbaden-Naurod, Germany

Elsa H. DonohueJakarta Intercultural School

U.S. Department of State- Office of Overseas Schools

Cilandak, Jakarta, Indonesia

Patrick M. O’SullivanChrist the King Catholic School

Diocese of DallasDallas, Texas

Michael J. YurkSt. Paul Lutheran School

Lutheran Church Missouri SynodGrafton, Wisconsin

Michelle A. Moore-RobinsonKinser Elementary School

Department of Defense Education Activity

Okinawa, Japan

Gayle R. RenkenSt. Timothy’s Christian AcademyEvangelical Lutheran Education

AssociationSan Jose, California

Kenneth J. WillersSchool of the Madeleine

Diocese of OaklandBerkeley, California

Phyllis Cavallone-JurekSt. Therese Chinese Catholic

SchoolChicago Archdiocese

Chicago, Illinois

Representing U.S. Department of Defense

Education Activity