Kennewick Leader Named Top Elementary Principal in State

For Bruce Cannard, it's all about relationships

OLYMPIA—Edison Elementary Principal Bruce Cannard calls education a “team venture.” Today, the Edison team is celebrating news that Cannard has been named the state’s top elementary school principal of the year.

Cannard was selected as the 2009 Washington State Distinguished Principal by the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) and its elementary component board, the Elementary School Principals Association of Washington (ESPAW).

Cannard’s ability to forge and foster relationships has earned the respect of his colleagues, students and parents in the Edison Elementary community. For Edison—a school with a large number of English language learners and a high level of poverty—Cannard’s investment in relationship-building is paying dividends in the form of strong staff engagement, increased parent involvement and a heightened focus on student achievement.

“None of us is as smart as all of us,” says Cannard of his collaborative work with the Edison staff. Together, they have implemented a model of instruction using the key elements of purpose, engagement, rigor and results. In addition to supporting Edison’s Dual Language Program, Cannard has also led the effort to revamp the school’s reading instruction through the building-wide implementation of the Response to Intervention (RTI) model.

“Our efforts are critical to the future opportunities of each child we serve,” says Cannard. “It is this belief in the crucial role we play in student lives that binds our staff together in a common mission.” An important part of this role for Cannard is developing a strong rapport with Edison students. On any given day, he is likely to be seen joining students for a chat over a brown-bag lunch, or practicing his Spanish skills to make a new student from Mexico feel welcome, or getting a laugh out of the students as his alter ego, Bernard.

This year, Cannard helped form the Edison Action Team for Partnership, a parent-teacher team dedicated to creating a school community climate that promotes student achievement. The group designs activities for parents and children, such as Family Reading Night, Family Bingo and Math Addventure.   

“Bruce is a man of high integrity and compassion,” says Greg Fancher, assistant superintendent of elementary education at Kennewick School District. “All of his successes are the result of strong, trusting relationships on a professional and personal level.”

Cannard’s credentials include a Master in Education and administrative credentials from Washington State University, and a Bachelor of Science and teaching certificate from University of Washington. He has been a building administrator for more than 20 years.

Selected from a group of 18 regional honorees in Washington, Cannard will represent the state in the National Distinguished Principal Program. He will be recognized for his accomplishments by AWSP and ESPAW this fall at The Principals’ Conference in Yakima.

The National Distinguished Principals Program is sponsored by the National Association of Elementary School Principals in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education and AIG VALIC. The formal award ceremony for all state nominees takes place in Washington D.C. each fall. Nominees participate in a series of events and activities over the course of two days, culminating in a formal awards banquet.

About the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP)
The Association of Washington School Principals is a professional association serving principals, assistant principals and principals in training. Formed in 1972, the Association now includes more than 3,400 members from public and private elementary, middle and high schools statewide. It is governed by a board of practicing principals composed of members drawn from three grade-specific boards representing the elementary, middle and high school levels. The mission of AWSP is to support principals and assistant principals and the principalship in the education of all students. For more information on the Association, visit the AWSP Web site at www.awsp.org.

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