CULLMAN, Ala. – The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) recently named East Elementary School Principal David Wiggins as the 2020 National Distinguished Principal for District 1 (Alabama).
On Wednesday, Wiggins told The Tribune, “I accepted this award in honor of all at East Elementary School. Any success on my part, as a principal, is a result of the combined efforts of our faculty and staff, our students and our families.”
According to NAESP, the National Distinguished Principal program was established to recognize elementary and middle level principals who set high standards for instruction, student achievement, character and climate for the students, families and staffs in their learning communities.
It says the program was based on three fundamental ideas:
- Children’s attitudes towards learning and their perceptions of themselves as lifelong learners are established in the beginning school years.
- The scope and quality of children’s educational experiences are determined primarily by the school principal, who establishes, through the important work of teachers and the support of caring parents, the character of a particular school’s program.
- The dedication and enthusiasm of the outstanding principals who guide children’s early education experiences should be acknowledged to both show appreciation for their work as well as to allow them to serve as models for others in the field.
“As much as I celebrate and share EES events and accomplishments, I consider our little elementary school to be one of the best kept secrets in the state,” said Wiggins. “Being recognized by NAESP is something that I never had on my radar. This is another validation that we, as a school family, are doing what is best for our children.”
The National Distinguished Principal program every year recognizes principals from all 50 states, including U.S. public and private schools and those from the United States Departments of Defense Office of Educational Activity and the United States Department of State Office of Overseas Schools.
According to NAESP, “Public school elementary and middle-level principals are nominated by peers in their state, and final selections are made by committees appointed by each of NAESP’s state affiliate offices. Honorees from private schools and overseas schools are selected by special committees.”
The 2019 class of National Distinguished Principals numbered 59.
“It is humbling be named as one of Alabama’s Distinguished Principals,” said Wiggins.
Learn more about the program at www.naesp.org/national-distinguished-principals-program.
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