Contact: Jennifer Fellinger, Director of Communications

Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP)

360.357.7951

jennifer@awsp.org 

Michael O’Donnell Named Finalist for 2009 National Assistant Principal of the Year Award

Cle Elum-Roslyn AP heading to San Diego for final interview

OLYMPIA–Jan. 27, 2009— Michael O’Donnell, assistant principal of Cle Elum-Roslyn High School, Cle Elum-Roslyn School District, has been named one of three finalists for the 2009 NASSP/Virco National Assistant Principal of the Year Award.

In October 2008, O’Donnell was named the Washington State Assistant Principal of the Year by the Washington Association of Secondary School Principals, a component board of the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP). As a national finalist, he will join assistant principals from Nebraska and Maryland in the final round of competition. The three finalists will be interviewed at the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) national convention in San Diego, taking place later this month. 

Dubbed the “King of Climate,” O’Donnell has led the charge in making personalized education a reality for the school’s nearly 300 high school students. “I’ve learned that blindly applying rules, regulations and discipline rarely achieves anything more than discord,” he wrote when nominated for the award. 

O’Donnell has fostered a collaborative school culture in which students are empowered—and expected—to perform to their potential. His development of a student achievement database has allowed staff to gather, organize and share assessment data. Staff members work with O’Donnell to develop and track individual learning plans for each student. With the database in place, the school has seen increased dialogue between students, advisers, teachers and parents.

“Assistant principals play an integral role in the molding the school’s culture, attitude, and in turn, performance,” said Gerald N. Tirozzi, NASSP executive director. “Michael’s evaluation of data has enabled Cle Elum-Roslyn High School to create individual learning plans for each student, something that is truly invaluable to help each reach their full potential.”

O’Donnell is also an advocate, teacher and lifelong learner of 21st-century skills. Not only does he teach technology in the classroom, O’Donnell helps students create Drum Beats, a weekly video that recognizes student achievements, builds camaraderie and injects humor into school life. Having participated in projects for the Washington Center for Information Technology and the Oracle Academy, he knows first-hand what skills his students will need for success beyond graduation.

“While the success of a school can never be credited to a single individual, a single person can be the critical factor in allowing the school to reach its potential,” remarked Boyd Keyser, principal of Cle Elum-Roslyn High. “We believe Mike is that key conduit for us.”

This marks the fourth time in recent years that a Washington state principal or assistant principal has made it to the national level of competition. In 2006, Springy Yamasaki of Skyridge Middle School (Camas SD) was named National Assistant Principal of the Year. Last year, Stacey Locke from Eisenhower High (Yakima SD) was one of three finalists for NASSP's National High School Principal of the Year, and in 2005, Bellingham High's Steve Clarke (Bellingham PS) was a finalist for National Principal of the Year.

O’Donnell will be honored at AWSP’s Assistant Principal of the Year luncheon Feb. 5, 2009, at the Hilton Vancouver Washington. The luncheon is held each year in conjunction with AWSP’s  Assistant Principals’ Leadership Conference.

NASSP and Virco, Inc., come together annually to honor a winner from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity schools. From this pool of outstanding administrators, three finalists are chosen. One national winner will be announced at NASSP’s national convention on Feb. 28, 2009, in San Diego. The national winner will be awarded $5,000, which can be used in their school or for personal professional development.

Additional information about the NASSP/Virco National Assistant Principal of the Year program can be found at www.principals.org/apoy or by contacting Leisl Bauman, Assistant Principal of the Year Program at NASSP, 703.860.7308 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 3,500 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.

# # #