Jeryl L. Martin

Jeryl L. Martin, the principal of Thomas B. Doherty High School in Colorado Springs, Colo., was scheduled to be named the 2007 National High School Principal of the Year in a surprise ceremony at the school on Sept. 18. The award is sponsored by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Ms. Martin is credited with increasing the average daily attendance from 87 percent to more than 91 percent and with overseeing improvements that have lowered the dropout rate from 3.2 percent to less than 1 percent. She also expanded honors and Advanced Placement classes at the 2,000-student school and introduced a system called “Parent Connection,” which allows parents to check their children’s grades and attendance by computer or telephone.