RESTON, Va., June 10, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and VIRCO Inc. (VIRCO), a school furniture manufacturer, have forged a new partnership in order to recognize the exceptional efforts of assistant school administrators. VIRCO's sponsorship will initially cover ten years and nearly $2 million.
The NASSP State and National Assistant Principal of the Year Program will annually honor a single winner from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools. From that pool of outstanding administrators, one national winner will be chosen. The state and national winners will be honored at a black-tie event in Washington, D.C., in the spring of 2005, for their efforts to make their schools a shining star in their community. During their stay in Washington, the honorees will participate in professional development and networking activities with their peers. The national winner will be awarded $5,000, which can be used in their school or for personal professional development.
"As school districts across the country struggle with filling school administrator positions, both principal and assistant principal, it becomes imperative that we highlight and honor the high flyers in the profession," said Gerald N. Tirozzi, NASSP executive director. "To have a good corporate citizen like VIRCO step up and support such an effort is a tremendous example of a positive public/private partnership."
"Assistant principals play a key administrative role in secondary schools across the nation," said Larry Wonder, VIRCO's Vice President of Sales. "We at VIRCO are happy to recognize their achievements and contribute to their professional development."
In order to be recognized as a State or National Assistant Principal of the Year, the honorees have to demonstrate success in the following areas:
Collaborative Leadership
- Implements strategies for improving teaching and learning by
putting programs and improvement efforts into action
- Involves teachers and other staff members in achieving the
goals of the school
- Functions effectively as a member of the school's leadership
team
- Is committed to continued professional growth
- Demonstrates and fosters creativity and imagination in
bringing about positive change
- Establishes partnerships with community groups to strengthen
programs and support school goals
Personalization
- Assists in ensuring the school climate is positive and
reflects high staff and student morale
- Teaches, coaches, and helps others (students and colleagues)
- Involves the community in the life of the school and uses
community resources for students
Curriculum Instruction and Assessment
- Facilitates the flexible use of time for increased student
achievement
- Observes, supervises and evaluates teachers and
instructional programs that result in effective learning for
all students
- Assures that the local assessment of students is
multifaceted and rigorous while complying with state
mandates
Selection of the state winners will be made by NASSP's state affiliates. An independent selection committee will choose three finalists from among the state honorees. The national winner will be announced at the NASSP National Convention.
The National Association of Secondary School Principals-the preeminent organization and the national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals and aspiring school leaders-provides its members with the professional resources to serve as visionary leaders. NASSP promotes the intellectual growth, academic achievement, character development, leadership development, and physical well-being of youth through its programs and student leadership services. NASSP sponsors the National Honor Society(tm), the National Junior Honor Society(tm), and the National Association of Student Councils(tm). For more information on NASSP, NHS, NJHS, or NASC, visit www.principals.org.
After getting started 54 years ago in southern California with a single customer, VIRCO has become America's leading furniture manufacturer for the K-12 market. The company's extensive product selection includes the all-new, ergonomically supportive Zuma(tm) collection, which will be formally introduced at NeoCon(r) 2004 on June 14 in Chicago. In addition to supplying thousands of satisfied customers with popular furniture items, VIRCO's industry-leading resource recovery and recycling program has been repeatedly honored by local, state and national organizations. Most recently -- in 2003 -- the United States Environmental Protection Agency recognized VIRCO as a charter member of its WasteWise Hall of Fame. For more on VIRCO, visit www.virco.com.
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