(St. Paul, MN, February 13, 2012) – Three members of the Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association (MESPA) are finalists for Minnesota 2012 National Distinguished Principal (NDP):

• Mark French, principal of Rice Lake Elementary School in the Osseo Public Schools (ISD #279);
  
• Mary Hanson, principal of Madelia Elementary School, Madelia Public Schools (ISD #837); and
  
• Jon Millerhagen, principal of Washburn Elementary School, Bloomington Public Schools (ISD #271).
  

This marks the 29^th year MESPA and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) have presented the prestigious award, which has corporate sponsorship from VALIC.

“At the helm of every successful school is a successful principal,” according to Gail Connelly, NAESP executive director. “Our National Distinguished Principals program provides us with an opportunity to recognize the outstanding leadership of these principals and their commitment to creating successful learning communities. Because of them, students thrive academically, teachers grow professionally, and communities are strengthened.”

The National Distinguished Principals (NDP) program was established in 1984 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. The program is 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.

The NDP program is designed to recognize the outstanding leadership of active, on-line principals. It is not a recognition of service at retirement, nor is it a program to reward current state or national leaders. Criteria established by NAESP require that the individual:

• Is a practicing principal with at least five years experience in the principalship.
• Plans to continue as a practicing principal.
• Demonstrates evidence of outstanding contributions to the community and to the education profession.
• Leads a school that is clearly committed to excellence.
• Leads a school that has programs designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students.
• Leads a school that has firm ties to parents and the community.

Each year, NDPs represent PreK – 8th grade public schools from all across the country as well as principals in U.S. 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. 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.

The three principals were nominated by members of their MESPA Divisions – and received strong references from parents, peers, and supervisors.  On January 31, their nominations, letters of reference, written applications, and a brief video (to replace a school site visit) were reviewed by a statewide selection committee including: MESPA's 12 Division Presidents, the most recent NDP (Joan Franks of Minneapolis), and Tim Bell, MESPA State Secretary/Treasurer.  Dr. Steven Geis (principal, Farmington) is the MESPA NAESP State Representative and chair of the NDP Selection Committee.

On May 4, the three finalists will be interviewed and the Selection Committee will determine the 2012 Minnesota National Distinguished Principal.