The Education Department and the National Association of Elementary School Principals have recognized 59 principals from elementary and middle schools throughout the country as “National Distinguished Principals.”
The winners in the annual program, announced Sept. 24 by Secretary of Education William J. Bennett and Samuel G. Sava, executive director of the naesp, were honored at an awards banquet here last week.
The principals were selected by naesp affiliates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and by special committees representing private and overseas schools. Selection guidelines included nomination by peers, at least five years’ experience in a principalship, a strong commitment to excellence, and evidence of support by students, colleagues, parents, and the community.
Listed below, by state, are the principals honored and the names and locations of their schools.
Alabama: Mattie J. Wilson, Glencoe Elementary School, Glencoe. Alaska: Jerry S. Schoenberger, Yakutat Elementary School, Yakutat. Arizona: Karen R. Kundin, Kachina School, Glendale. Arkansas: Oma L. Blackwell, F.S. Root Elementary School, Fayetteville. California: John M. Blaydes, J.H. McGaugh Elementary School, Seal Beach. Colorado: Erlinda P. Archuleta, McMeen Elementary School, Denver. Connecticut: David A. Walls, Silver Lane Elementary School, East Hartford. Delaware: W. Edward Burton, East Millsboro Elementary, Millsboro. District of Columbia: Alvira W. Travis, Lucy D. Slowe Elementary School. Florida: Dolores B. Hardison, Nova Eisenhower Elementary School, Fort Lauderdale.
Georgia: Rufus Akins, Tattnall Elementary School, Reidsville. Hawaii: Harold H.P. Look, Alvah A. Scott Elementary School, Aiea. Idaho: Robert W. DeBuhr Jr., Lapwai Elementary School, Lapwai. Illinois: Thomas C. Kircher, John W. Gates Elementary School, Aurora. Indiana: James French, Murdock Elementary School, Lafayette. Iowa: Edward D. Fauble, Pleasant View Elementary School, Pleasant Valley. Kansas: Forrest D. Fernkopf, Lafayette Elementary School, Topeka. Kentucky: Roger Conwell Jr., Fern Creek Elementary School, Louisville. Louisiana: Dianne C. Helire, North Highlands Elementary School, Baton Rouge. Maine: David Murphy, Andover Elementary School, Andover.
Maryland: Patrick E. McCarty, Edgewood Elementary School, Edgewood. Massachusetts: Bernard F. Creeden, Spofford Pond School, Boxford. Michigan: Marilyn H. Frank, Anna M. Besser Elementary School, Alpena. Minnesota: Robert L. Sande, Jefferson Elementary School, Rochester. Mississippi: Ruby L. Smith, South Side Elementary School, West Point. Missouri: Geraldine J. Grady, Scott Kindergarten Complex, Belton. Montana: Kenneth R. Lane, Boulder Avenue Elementary School, Billings. Nebraska: Joseph W. Cook, Newell Elementary, Grand Island. Nevada: Noreen A. Hawley, Clyde C. Cox Elementary School, Las Vegas. New Hampshire: Raymond A. Bourque, Auburn Village School, Auburn.
New Jersey: Violet R. Thompson, South Valley School, Moorestown. New Mexico: Carl J. Weingartner, Montezuma Elementary School, Albuquerque. New York: Joseph Soury, Midland School, Rye. North Carolina: Richard C. Voso, Brevard Elementary School, Brevard. North Dakota: Ernest O. Medalen, Edison Elementary School, Minot. Ohio: Patricia M. Buckingham, Cline Elementary School, Centerville. Oklahoma: Don Briix, McLoud Elementary School, McLoud. Oregon: Marilee Fitzpatrick, Periwinkle Elementary, Albany. Pennsylvania: Leo H. Crawford, Washington Elementary School, Mt. Lebanon. Rhode Island: Robert V. Hassan, Nayatt School, Barrington.
South Carolina: Charles E. Gatch, Lexington Middle School, Lexington. South Dakota: John P. Gauer, Lowell Elementary School, Sioux Falls. Tennessee: Yvonne G. Allen, Whiteville Elementary School, Whiteville. Texas: Nancy M. Sampson, Horne Elementary School, Houston. Utah: Brent L. Milne, Bonneville Elementary School, Orem. Vermont: Anne B. Brown, Orchard Elementary School, South Burlington. Virginia: Geraldine J. Courtney, Benjamin Phillips Elementary School, Hampton. Washington: Priscilla K. Cannon, Jason Lee Elementary School, Richland. West Virginia: Frank D. Devono, West Milford Elementary School, West Milford. Wisconsin: Patricia J. Popple, Robbins Elementary School, Eau Claire. Wyoming: Paul A. Scissons, Gertrude Burns Elementary School, Newcastle.
Representing private schools:
Illinois: Marvin J. Brandt, Concordia Lutheran School, Peoria. Louisiana: Sister Ruth Angelette, St. Anthony of Padua School, New Orleans. Mississippi: Sister Mary A. Peltier, St. Alphonsus School, Ocean Springs. Pennsylvania: Sister Deborah K. Donnelly, St. Stanislaus School, Lansdale.
Representing Defense Department overseas dependents’ schools:
England: Karla A. Stark, West Ruislip Elementary School, London. West Germany: Joan B. Wilcox, Mark Twain Elementary School, Heidelberg.
Representing State Department overseas schools:
Bolivia: Dennis J. Sheehan, American Cooperative School, La Paz. Colombia: Ann S. Hernandez, Colegio Bolivar, Cali.
