National Distinguished Principals

NAESP recognized the 2019 class of National Distinguished Principals during a celebration in their honor.
Communicator
October 2019, Volume 43, Issue 2

NAESP recognized the top principals in the country and overseas who made up the 2019 class of NAESP National Distinguished Principals (NDPs). Leading up to a two-day celebration in their honor, NDPs flew in to Washington, D.C., from around the globe—even from Panama and Ecuador—to take part in the Oct. 10-11 ceremony. They left with a renewed passion for education, a group of fellow principals who likely will remain lifelong friends, and colleagues they can add to their professional learning networks

Tonight we wrap up our two-day celebration of the #naespNDP class of 2019. Congratulations on being recognized for all of your hard work to help your students, schools, families, and communities. We can’t wait to see what’s next for each of you! #ThankAPrincipal pic.twitter.com/w5FqT0SORF

— NAESP (@NAESP) October 11, 2019

Sharing a Passion for Education

The opening event gave principals the opportunity to tell their NDP peers about their passion for education. These 2-minute speeches long have been a favorite of many principals who are honored as NDPs—and this year was no different.

Each principal, despite having their own path to the position, faced similar challenges like budget cuts, trauma in schools, and ensuring equity and equality for all students. But they all fought to overcome the challenges because their students, staff, and community mean the world to them.

By far the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done is be an elementary school principal. Making decisions with students in mind is critical at every level. … If you don’t make time to take care of yourself, you can’t take care of others. – Melissa Fields, 2019 #naespNDP pic.twitter.com/xdwq04uiKU

— NAESP (@NAESP) October 10, 2019

As principals, what’s amazing is that the work we do inside and outside of the classroom makes a difference in education. In our communities, we all grow together. – Habeeb Quadri, 2019 #naespNDP pic.twitter.com/D6A5a3oF19

— NAESP (@NAESP) October 10, 2019

Each of us has a story filled with many possibilities. We have hope. Children are learning and feeling safe, valued, and empowered. That’s what we do. We remove obstacles so that all are included, safe, and happy. – @Paoladepereira, 2019 #naespNDP pic.twitter.com/qNEWI8jtVh

— NAESP (@NAESP) October 10, 2019

Creating a Dialogue With Education Officials

This year, to open the celebration, the U.S. Department of State held a welcome reception for our NDP class. Tom Shearer, director, Office of Overseas Schools, U.S. Department of State, and Carrie Cabelka, assistant secretary, Bureau of Administration, U.S. Department of State, congratulated the principals for being recognized for their hard work on behalf of students.

Honored to have Tom Shearer, director, Office of Overseas Schools, @StateDept, speak to our 2019 #naespNDP class during a reception at the U.S. Department of State. pic.twitter.com/A3rXPE7oXz

— NAESP (@NAESP) October 10, 2019

Thank you to Carrie Cabelka, assistant secretary, @StateDept, for your support of NAESP and students and educators across the country. We appreciate you taking the time out to speak at our #naespNDP reception tonight. pic.twitter.com/RoaonMBwIu

— NAESP (@NAESP) October 10, 2019

The following day, NDPs walked to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in the White House Complex to meet with leaders of the U.S. Department of Education, including Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

The @usedgov hosted our #naespNDP class at the @WhiteHouse complex today to discuss education initiatives. Thanks for welcoming us and opening a dialogue with our leaders in education. pic.twitter.com/mXiBjouRpX

— NAESP (@NAESP) October 11, 2019

U.S. Secretary of Education @BetsyDeVosED met today with the 2019 #naespNDP class at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Thank you to the @usedgov for hosting us! pic.twitter.com/e9FsRTL8J9

— NAESP (@NAESP) October 11, 2019

Making Memories

The NDPs participated in memento-sharing to show their pride for the school and state they represent. Each principal was able to take home from each state a trinket, which included treats like cookies and chocolate and keepsakes like ornaments and magnets. Plus, an annual tradition, the NDP from Hawaii—this year, Stacie SG Kunihisa—once again brought leis for everyone to wear.

A tradition each year at the #naespNDP celebration is when honorees share mementos from their home states. Lots of fun trinkets—and tasty treats! Thanks for sharing your state pride! pic.twitter.com/lhcPz7mSgI

— NAESP (@NAESP) October 11, 2019

Learning Together

Two leadership sessions gave principals from all corners of the U.S. the opportunity to learn together. First up was Joe Reeder, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point who now works at a law firm in Washington, D.C., who shared insight into picking good people to surround you, setting parameters, and getting out of the way to let success happen.

Our morning sessions kicked off with @GT_Law’s Joe R. Reeder, a graduate of @WestPoint_USMA. Reeder shared lessons in leadership he learned as he moved up the ranks in the Army and in the corporate sector as a lawyer. #naespndp pic.twitter.com/KgKdmseb5R

— NAESP (@NAESP) October 11, 2019

Then, a familiar face from the 2018 NDP class—Andy Jacks, principal of Ashland Elementary School in Virginia and an NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership fellow—merged the movie “Top Gun” with leadership lessons, resulting in a high-energy session where principals figured out their “unique similarities” to show how they can lean on each other as they work to overcome obstacles in their schools and find success.

If you paired with another principal from across the country, what would your “unique similarities” be? That’s what members of the #naespNDP class of 2019 are discovering in this leadership session with @_AndyJacks. Is it lonely at the top? It doesn’t have to be! #naespCIL pic.twitter.com/6H7gjUiysb

— NAESP (@NAESP) October 11, 2019

Celebrating Accomplishments

The celebration concluded with a black-tie ceremony to recognize each of the NDPs, who received engraved bells—another tradition of the event—that symbolized their dedication to their students, faculty and staff, schools, and communities.

And just like that, the 2019 #naespNDP celebration comes to a close with the ringing of the bells for children around the world, a favorite annual tradition of the event. Congratulations! #OnceAnNDPAlwaysAnNDP #ThankAPrincipal pic.twitter.com/jbj1YXBr6D

— NAESP (@NAESP) October 12, 2019

Congratulations to the 2019 class of National Distinguished Principals! Learn more about the program and this year’s recipients on the NAESP website. Check out #naespNDP on Twitter to see highlights from the event.

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