Tennessee Education Department Announces 2016-17 Principal of the Year Finalists
NASHVILLE—Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced the finalists for the 2016-17 Tennessee Principal of the Year award today. The nine finalists represent each Center of Regional Excellence (CORE) region in the state, with three finalists in each Grand Division, West, Middle and East. Grand Division winners and the Principal of the Year will be selected from this group and announced on Oct. 25, 2016, during the department’s LEAD Conference.
“Leadership matters. As I’ve traveled around the state, I have seen the significant impact a strong school leader has on teachers’ successes and students’ progress,” Commissioner McQueen said. “Principals set the tone and expectations that drive student learning in their buildings, and I commend these finalists for the ways in which they have set a high bar for the profession.”
The nine finalists for 2016-17 Principal of the Year are:
| CORE Region | Principal | School | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby/Municipals | Docia Generette-Walker | Middle College High School | Shelby County Schools |
| Southwest | Lillie Treadway | Ripley Primary School | Lauderdale County School System |
| Northwest | Charlotte Shivley | East Elementary School | Humboldt City Schools |
| CORE Region | Principal | School | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid Cumberland | Robin Newell | Mitchell-Neilson Schools | Murfreesboro City Schools |
| South Central | Tina Weatherford | Joseph Brown Elementary School | Maury County Public Schools |
| Upper Cumberland | Grant Swallows | White County High School | White County Schools |
| CORE Region | Principal | School | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast | Glen Puryear | Rogers Creek Elementary School | McMinn County School System |
| East Tennessee | Beth Roeder | Andersonville Elementary School | Anderson County Schools |
| First Tennessee | Susan Trent | Surgoinsville Elementary Schools | Hawkins County School District |
The Tennessee Principal of the Year award is given annually to a school leader for outstanding service in education and exceptional leadership that drives overall improvements in his or her school. To qualify, candidates must have a minimum of three years' experience as a principal and a minimum of five years' experience in Tennessee public schools. In addition, all nominees must have a proven track record of exceptional gains in student learning.
For more information about the Principal of the Year program, contact Sylvia Flowers at Sylvia.Flowers@tn.gov. For media inquiries, contact Sara Gast at (615) 532-6260 or Sara.Gast@tn.gov.