And the Winner is . . .

I've just returned from one of my favorite events of the year. Every school district has them, but I can speak authoritatively on only one.

Since becoming an employee of Wake County Public School System five years ago and predating the creation of the regional leadership academy, I have had the privilege of attending the WCPSS Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year Celebration. In fact, I am honored to work on the Award Committee as an Assistant Principal of the Year Site-Visit Team Member.

Tonight's venue was, as it has been for the last several years, Kids Marbles Museum in downtown Raleigh. And a fitting place it was. Door prizes too numerous to mention, winner awards generous to a fault, and Cafe Luna hors d'oeuvres delicious beyond belief made the evening memorable.

What made it most special, of course, was the gathering of the tribe--building administrators who daily do the heavy lifting of seeing that children are being taught as well as humanly possible. I know from experience that the job is tough and sometimes thankless.

This Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year Celebration, however, was a not-so-subtle reminder that there is a huge network of support available and that, although sometimes not stated, the public's gratitude for their work is immense. Vice Chair of the WCPSS Board of Education, Debra Goldman, was very clear on that account.

And the thanks was reciprocated. As I listened to Assistant Superintendent Gainey's prepared remarks about the five principal and assistant principal finalists, I knew in an instant that these individuals had arrived at where they were because of a support network and a sense of gratitude.  

In fact, when Robert Grant, assistant principal winner, and Dana King, principal winner, addressed their peers, board of education members, county commissioners, central service staff, and retiring principals and assistant principals, each one stated that the award was being received on behalf of people in the audience, professionals with whom they work on a daily basis, professionals who have contributed to their leadership journey, and loved ones at home who support them.

I was humbled to hear two citations of TLA by the finalists and especially by Bob Grant's personal thank you to me and former TLA executive director, Joe Peel. And Dana, well, she and I go back nearly 10 years when as a SERVE consultant, I came once a month to Wake County to deliver a day-long session of Natural Forces, a year-long leadership-development program for practicing principals and assistant principals in which she was a student. Even then, she was a standout.

Wake County is proud of its building leaders as I am certain that you, where-ever you live, are proud of yours.  I am fond of reminding my NC State University Master of School Administration students, "principal" was at one time an adjective that modified the noun "teacher." That is, he or she was understood to be the school's main teacher. So here's to the teacher in all of us. And the winner is . . . you!