Franklin Pierce High School Principal
Is Tops in Washington State

Jennifer Shaw leading a journey toward student success

OLYMPIA–Franklin Pierce High School is celebrating news today that its principal, Jennifer Shaw, has been selected as Washington state’s 2010 High School Principal of the Year by the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP). Dr. Frank Hewins, superintendent of Franklin Pierce Schools, and Bob Mc Mullen, director of high school programs at AWSP, made the surprise announcement at a school staff meeting this morning.

A panel of principals representing the Washington Association of Secondary School Principals, a component of AWSP, selected Shaw from 11 regional finalists.

Shaw, who has been principal at Franklin Pierce High since 2007, describes her work in the principalship as an ongoing journey that continues to move students toward success. Joining Shaw in that journey is her staff, whose skills and commitment she has marshaled to create a professional learning community (PLC). Together, their work is grounded in high academic and behavioral expectations for all students.

At Franklin Pierce High, where nearly half the students qualify for free and reduced lunch, Shaw has ushered in innovative, personalized intervention programs for students who require additional support. When data showed more than 50 percent of ninth graders were failing one or more classes, Shaw launched the Freshman Academy, a “school within a school” that gives students a structured learning experience based on interdisciplinary instruction. Over a two-year period, the failure rate has dropped by more than 25 percent. Shaw also helped institute the school-wide Learning Lab, which meets three days a week to address students’ individual needs with extra time and support.   

Under Shaw’s guidance, a group of teachers, staff and administrators formed a Safe and Civil Schools Committee. Driven by its mission to ensure a safe environment and improve school climate, the committee has implemented several strategies that have yielded impressive results: tardies have decreased by 74 percent and daily average attendance has increased to more than 90 percent.

For Shaw, the journey toward student success never ends. Even though Franklin Pierce High has experienced significant improvements—increases in the number of students meeting standard, taking Advanced Placement classes and participating in the SAT, and decreases in the number of disciplinary referrals—she continues to strengthen the learning environment. Shaw is currently focusing on data to understand how she can help advance the achievement of lower performing ethnic groups and low-income groups in the school.

According to Hewins, “There are truly good things taking place at Franklin Pierce High School for kids and families due to the leadership of Jennifer Shaw.”

Hewins credits Shaw for having the courage to confront the issues that were preventing students from moving ahead. “As a strong leader,” he says, “she was able to have the crucial conversations that were an essential step in reshaping of the school’s culture as it was perceived by staff, students and parents.”

“Jennifer leads by example, putting students at the heart of every decision,” says Gary Kipp, executive director of AWSP. “Her passion for student learning has had a profound impact on the Franklin Pierce High School community, where the success of the students illustrates just how powerful great leadership can be.”

Shaw holds a bachelor’s degree in both accounting and business education and a master’s degree in business education, all from Central Washington University.

Shaw will be honored with the state elementary and middle level school principals of the year at AWSP’s 2010 Principals’ Conference Oct. 3–5. She also will travel to Washington, D.C., to represent Washington state at the national level. There, she will be recognized with other state principals of the year at an awards banquet hosted by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and MetLife.

Shaw now becomes eligible for the 2011 MetLife/NASSP National Principals of the Year award. Launched in 1993, the program annually recognizes outstanding middle level and high school principals who have demonstrated excellence in the areas addressed by the selection criteria, including: collaborative leadership; personalization; and curriculum, instruction and assessment. Each state, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Department of State’s Overseas Schools will send one middle level and one high school principal to the national level. From the state winners, six finalists (three middle level, three high school) are selected and eligible for the award. For more information on the National MetLife/NASSP Principal of the Year program, visit www.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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