2025 National Distinguished Principals®

Congratulations to our 2025 Class of National Distinguished Principals! NAESP honors the following outstanding elementary and middle-level administrators for setting high standards for instruction, student achievement, character, and climate for the students, families, and staff in their learning communities.

To learn more about each NDP, click on their name. Learn more about the NDP program here.

Stan B. Stokley, Ed.D.
View Profile

Stan B. Stokley, Ed.D.

stanbstokley@gmail.com

Saraland Elementary School
Alabama
Diane Crockett
View Profile

Diane Crockett

dcrockett@kts.bssd.org

Brevig Mission School
Alaska
Marianne Lucas Lescher, Ph.D.
View Profile

Marianne Lucas Lescher, Ph.D.

mlesch@kyrene.org

Kyrene Traditional Academy
Arizona
Julie Hatchel, Ed.D.
View Profile

Julie Hatchel, Ed.D.

jhatchel@lbusd.org

El Morro Elementary School
California
Michelle J. Rubidoux-Wilson
View Profile

Michelle J. Rubidoux-Wilson

mwilson@alamosaschools.org

Alamosa Elementary School 3-5
Colorado
Bryan E. Kerachsky
View Profile

Bryan E. Kerachsky

bryan.kerachsky@vernonct.org

Skinner Road School
Connecticut
Joan Allison Booth, Ed.D.
View Profile

Joan Allison Booth, Ed.D.

joan.booth@irsd.k12.de.us

John M. Clayton Elementary School
Delaware
Donna L. Kelley, Ed.D.
View Profile

Donna L. Kelley, Ed.D.

donna.kelley@okaloosaschools.com

Northwood Elementary School
Florida
Gavin A. Tsue
View Profile

Gavin A. Tsue

gavin.tsue@k12.hi.us

Palisades Elementary School
Hawaii
Jennifer E. Gomez, Ed.S.
View Profile

Jennifer E. Gomez, Ed.S.

jgomez@lewistonschools.net

Orchards Elementary School
Idaho
Sonia E. Ruiz
View Profile

Sonia E. Ruiz

ruizse@vvsd.org

Jane Addams Middle School
Illinois
Jayme L. Braida
View Profile

Jayme L. Braida

jayme.braida@chariton.k12.ia.us

Columbus Elementary School
Iowa
Susan J. Grey
View Profile

Susan J. Grey

susan.grey@vfalls338.com

Valley Falls Elementary School
Kansas
Sarah Y. Williams, Ed.S.
View Profile

Sarah Y. Williams, Ed.S.

sarah.williams@jefferson.kyschools.us

Mattie B. Luhr Elementary School
Kentucky
Monya Thomas Criddle, Ph.D.
View Profile

Monya Thomas Criddle, Ph.D.

monya.thomas-criddle@jpschools.org

Ralph J. Bunche Elementary School
Louisiana
Christina M. Boursaw, Ed.D.
View Profile

Christina M. Boursaw, Ed.D.

boursawc@westbrookschools.org

Sylvio J. Gilbert Elementary School
Maine
Ryan Daniel, Ed.D.
View Profile

Ryan Daniel, Ed.D.

ryan.daniel@pgcps.org

Fort Foote Elementary School
Maryland
Brenda Kelley, Ed.S.
View Profile

Brenda Kelley, Ed.S.

bkelley@lenoxps.org

Morris Elementary School
Massachusetts
David A. Cherry
View Profile

David A. Cherry

cherryd@howellschools.com

Challenger Elementary School
Michigan
Ashley L. Farrington
View Profile

Ashley L. Farrington

ashley.farrington@wayzataschools.org

Wayzata Birchview Elementary School
Minnesota
Fannie D. Green, Ed.D.
View Profile

Fannie D. Green, Ed.D.

fgreen@madison-schools.com

Camden Elementary School
Mississippi
Amanda R. Spight
View Profile

Amanda R. Spight

amanda_spight@isdschools.org

Santa Fe Trail Elementary School
Missouri
Jamie Courville
View Profile

Jamie Courville

jcourville@hellgatesd4.k12.mt.us

Hellgate Middle School – Building 4
Montana
Cathy Cooper
View Profile

Cathy Cooper

cathycooper@summerlandbobcats.org

Summerland Public School (Elementary)
Nebraska
Jennifer L. Black
View Profile

Jennifer L. Black

blackjl@nv.ccsd.net

Lincoln Elementary School
Nevada
Brittany R. Rhoades
View Profile

Brittany R. Rhoades

bgriffin@risd.k12.nm.us

Mountain View Middle School
New Mexico
Matthew T. Wentworth, Ed.D.
View Profile

Matthew T. Wentworth, Ed.D.

matthew.wentworth@gcsny.org

Goshen Intermediate School
New York
Donna Lawson Bledsoe
View Profile

Donna Lawson Bledsoe

bledsoedo@surry.k12.nc.us

Cedar Ridge Elementary School
North Carolina
Jenell M. Bear
View Profile

Jenell M. Bear

jenell.bear@k12.nd.us

Edwin Loe Elementary School
North Dakota
Daniel Kaffar
View Profile

Daniel Kaffar

dan.kaffar@dlschools.org

Central Middle School
North Dakota
Kasandra D. Nelson, Ed.D.
View Profile

Kasandra D. Nelson, Ed.D.

knelson@vicischools.k12.ok.us

Vici Elementary School
Oklahoma
Matt E. Miller, Ed.D.
View Profile

Matt E. Miller, Ed.D.

mmiller@cysd.k12.pa.us

Roundtown Elementary School
Pennsylvania
Cheryl Bernardo Vaughn
View Profile

Cheryl Bernardo Vaughn

cheryl.vaughn@cumberlandschools.org

Community Elementary School
Rhode Island
Jay M. Swatek
View Profile

Jay M. Swatek

jay.swatek@k12.sd.us

Venture Elementary School
South Dakota
Patrick L. Certion, Ed.S.
View Profile

Patrick L. Certion, Ed.S.

certionpl@scsk12.org

Dexter K-8 Elementary School
Tennessee
Frederick J. Hewitt III, Ed.D.
View Profile

Frederick J. Hewitt III, Ed.D.

Frederick.Hewitt@mnps.org

DuPont Tyler Middle School
Tennessee
Andra J. Penny, Ph.D.
View Profile

Andra J. Penny, Ph.D.

apenny@coppellisd.com

Cottonwood Creek Elementary School
Texas
Timothy J. Pead
View Profile

Timothy J. Pead

tpead@alpinedistrict.org

Ridgeline Elementary School
Utah
Scott Blood
View Profile

Scott Blood

scott.blood@oesu.org

Blue Mountain Union School
Vermont
Alyse L. Zeffiro
View Profile

Alyse L. Zeffiro

zeffirax@pwcs.edu

Kerrydale Elementary School
Virginia
Cathi A. Davis
View Profile

Cathi A. Davis

cdavis@nsd.org

Ruby Bridges Elementary School
Washington
Samuel L. Karns
View Profile

Samuel L. Karns

skarns@wwusd.org

Todd Elementary School
Wisconsin
Andrea E. Gilbertson
View Profile

Andrea E. Gilbertson

agilbertson@fremont24.com

Shoshoni Elementary School
Wyoming