The Indiana Association of School Principals

Contact us: 11025 East 25th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46229 | 317-891-9900 | 800-285-2188 | fax 317-894-9807 | www.iasp.org Map | HOME

Elementary Principal of the Year

Mary Beth Harris has leveraged her participation in Principal for a Day into long-standing relationships that have benefited Blanche E. Fuqua Elementary School in Terre Haute. After representatives from Wendy's and Terre Haute Regional Hospital shadowed Mary Beth for a day, they both became committed to helping the school. The district manager of Wendy's attends PTO meetings and provides incentives for student attendance and achievement. The restaurant donates chili for the PTO chili supper and helps prepare and serve at the school's fish fry. Students support Wendy's by decorating the restaurant, and teachers and parents work at the store once a month with a percentage of profits going to the school. The hospital has donated money for an outdoor classroom and counseling services. They also have provided mentors, guest readers, and parties for the students. Students make field trips to the hospital as well.
To provide a climate that is open, inviting, and accepting, Mary Beth holds monthly unity meetings. Individuals representing teachers, assistants, custodians, secretaries, etc. share happenings in their area--one of which must be positive. For concerns or problems, the group offers ideas for resolution.
Mary Beth serves on the Vigo County superintendents' advisory committee, unity team, elementary principal's cabinet, transportation committee and special education advisory committee. Mary Beth completed her bachelor's degree in elementary education and master's degree in elementary school administration from Indiana State University and has a minor in learning disabilities from St. Mary of the Woods College.

<<top>>

Middle School Principal of the Year

There must be a special place in the heart of Tim for middle school students as evidenced by the fact that he has spent his entire career teaching or leading a middle school. Before taking over the helm of Clark-Pleasant Middle School in Whiteland four years ago, Tim was the assistant principal for three years and a middle school art teacher for nine years.
Since he has been an administrator at Clark Pleasant, 7th and 8th grade enrollment has skyrocketed, along with its mobility rate, free/reduced lunch program, special education populations, and ESL student--mostly Punjabi Indian students. To meet these demographic changes, the staff has had to be flexible. Using the Professional Learning Community model, the school stresses high achievement and positive growth by ensuring that everything is geared toward educating the whole child.
One impactful program has been Warrior Homeroom where gaps in areas identified as vital to overall student success are addressed. Each day, students are given of variety of opportunities based on their individual academic, social, and emotional needs, ranging from flexible group tutoring, redoes/retakes on tests, life skills, grade checks, goal setting and clubs and community-based projects.
Reading programs designed to help non-traditional learners and students below grade level improve their literacy skills, such as Fast Forward and Plugged into Reading, are used. An after-school program entitled Hangtime provides a positive structure for after-school study and fun. Volunteers are on hand to provide guided study time/tutoring. Test scores and grades reflect improved learning in all disciplines. In fact, the school made PL 221 exemplary status last year.

<<top>>

High School Principal of the Year

Since the current educational climate for public educators is less than favorable, Lezlie realized that it was more important than ever for the principal to be the instructional leader of the building. So at Mississinewa High School in Gas City, where she is principal, she has made it her mission to clearly understand expectations in terms of assessment, data analysis, state reporting, and best instructional practices.
RTI has been implemented at the school to enable teachers to recognize each student as an individual learner. Collecting data and then using the data to provide the most relevant instruction for each student has resulted in a dramatic increase in student academic achievement.
An alternative school has provided a positive, structured learning environment for at-risk students and gives students who are willing to take part in the program the opportunity to obtain their high school diploma. The program is housed in the high school so that students can take traditional classes as well as classes in the alternative room.
Project Leadership Mentoring provides the school's 21st Century Scholars with a mentor from the community to familiarize them with opportunities outside of high school. Over the past seven years, community volunteers have logged more than 7,000 hours in more than 7,000 sessions with students.
In 2010, Mississinewa was one of 12 high schools in the state awarded the Indiana Graduation Rate Performance Incentive from the Indiana Department of Education for its 95 percent graduation rate.

<<top>>

Safety is one of Stephen's biggest priorities at Doe Creek Middle School in New Palestine. In 2009, he was awarded a grant for more than $97,000 in federal money for his school corporation. With these funds, every teacher in the district received emergency kits and advanced safety training. A private school received equipment to help them communicate with the district and emergency agencies during a crisis.
In addition, plans for the pandemic flu, continuity, and food defense were developed and implemented. The corporation has teamed up with the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, the FBI, the DEA, and local law and fire departments to provide active shooter training.
Within Doe Creek, Stephen started the Sheepdog program to recognize staff members who go above and beyond in their drive to keep students and staff safe. He instituted a special safety award in honor of an individual whose procedures helped save nearly 3,000 employees on 9/11. Other components of the program include student rangers, safety officers, and committees in each building.

<<top>>