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OLYMPIA—For the fifth time since 2005, a
Washington state building administrator is in the running for a national
principalship award. Christine J. Lynch, principal of John Shaw Middle
School, Spokane Public Schools, has been named a finalist for
the 2010
National Principal of the Year Award.
In February, Lynch was honored as the 2009 Washington State Middle
Level Principal of the Year by the Association of
Washington School Principals. Three middle level principals,
including Lynch, and three high school principals were selected
as national
finalists from all 2009 principals of the year representing the
50 states, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense
Education Activity schools.
Lynch will be interviewed next Monday, August 17, in Arlington,
Virginia, by a panel of judges who will choose one middle level and one
high school principal as the 2010 MetLife/NASSP National Principals of
the Year. The winners will be announced in September.
Earlier this year, Michael
O'Donnell of Cle Elum-Roslyn High, Cle Elum-Roslyn School
District, was named one of three finalists for the National Assistant
Principal of the Year Award. In 2008, Stacey
Locke from Eisenhower High, Yakima School District, was a
finalist for the National High School Principal of the Year. In
2006, Springy
Yamasaki of Skyridge Middle School, Camas School District, was
named National Assistant Principal of the Year, and in 2005, Bellingham
High’s Steve
Clarke, Bellingham Public Schools, was a finalist for National
Principal of the Year.
Having the opportunity to interview for National Principal of the
Year is “an extraordinary honor,” according to
Lynch.
“I truly appreciate the support of our staff at Shaw Middle
School, Spokane Public Schools and colleagues throughout the
state,” said Lynch as she prepared for the upcoming interview.
“Believing in public education, in our teachers and mostly in our
children is the backbone of our work. Our democratic society is based on
strong leadership in every occupation, and I’m delighted to be a
part of the strong educational network in Washington state.”
Lynch, who calls being a principal “the best job in the
world,” has served as principal of Shaw Middle for the past five
years. During that time, she has led a collaborative effort among the
school’s staff, students and families to raise academic
achievement. The results speak for themselves: Shaw has been named a
National Title I Distinguished School for closing the achievement gap in
math and has received a Title I Improvement Award from the Office of
Superintendent of Public Instruction for maintaining AYP in all
categories.
Driven by her commitment to create “powerful instruction for
all students,” Lynch employs several strategies to foster success
within the Shaw community. Under her leadership, teachers use
“data walls” to track student performance, identify the need
for intervention and celebrate student success. Families participate in
student-led conferences twice a year. Staff members build their own
leadership skills, supported by Lynch’s coaching and
mentorship.
“At the heart of a great principal is not just an understanding
of successful instructional practices, but the courage to implement
those practices, the commitment to strengthen student achievement and
the passion to inspire that same commitment in others,” said Gary
Kipp, executive director of AWSP. “Christine deserves recognition
for her remarkable accomplishments in all these areas.”
“In many ways, Christine is a reflection of the caliber of
principals and assistant principals here in Washington state,”
added Kipp. “We are proud to have such a record of excellence
within the principalship. The outstanding leadership of our principals
ensures the success of our students, even under the most challenging
circumstances.”
Lynch and the five other finalists receive a $1,500 grant each. The
two national award winners receive an additional grant of $3,500. The
grants are used to promote the advancement of learning opportunities for
students or other related investments such as capital improvements, the
purchase of technology-related equipment or funding specific educational
programs.
In October, Lynch will be recognized with other state principals of
the year at an awards banquet hosted in Washington, D.C. by NASSP and
MetLife. She also will be honored with the elementary and high school
principals of the year at AWSP’s 2009
Principals’ Conference, Oct. 18–20 in Yakima.
Launched in 1993, the MetLife/NASSP Principal of the Year program
annually recognizes outstanding middle level and high school principals.
It has become a nationally-known vehicle for spotlighting secondary
school principals whose schools include some configuration of grades
6-12. The program honors principals who have demonstrated excellence in
the areas addressed by the selection criteria, including: collaborative
leadership; personalization; and curriculum, instruction and
assessment.
For more information on the National MetLife/NASSP Principal of the
Year program, visit www.principals.org or
contact NASSP’s Leisl Bauman at 800.253.7746 x308 or baumanl@principals.org.
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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