The National Distinguished Principals Program is based on three premises.

1. It is important that the dedication and enthusiasm of principals who guide children’s earliest educational experiences be acknowledged. Recognition is a powerful instrument for building pride in accomplishment and continued determination to pursue excellence.
2. The scope and quality of children’s educational experiences are determined primarily by the principal, who establishes, through the important work of teachers and the support of caring parents, the character of a particular school’s program.
3. Children’s attitudes toward learning and their perceptions of themselves as lifelong learners are established in the beginning school years. By high school or college, patterns are formed and interventions may be too late.

Criteria for National Distinguished Principal Selection

The following criteria represent key elements of the varied criteria which already exist in state principal recognition programs. Each criterion is to be used as a significant requirement in the selection of the National Distinguished Principal who will represent Minnesota and MESPA. The NDP program is designed to recognize the outstanding leadership of active, on-line principals. It is not recognition of service at retirement or a program to reward current state or national association leaders.

Please note: Grade configurations of elementary school candidates must include primary grades (preK-3, K-8, 1-6, etc.); grade configurations of middle level school candidates must include upper elementary and middle grades only (4-8, 6-7, 5-8, etc.).

The selected principal:

• is an active principal of a school in which a commitment to excellence is clearly evident through programs designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students, and through firmly established community ties with parents and local business organizations;
• has been an active principal for at least five years;
• will be an active principal during the year in which he/she will receive the award or a position that provides supervision or leadership to principals.
• shows a strong commitment to the principalship through active membership in professional associations – including MESPA and NAESP;
• is respected by students, colleagues, parents and the community at large;
• assumes an active role in his/her community, distinguishing himself/herself as a leader in civic, religious or humanitarian activities;
• shows strong educational leadership by setting high expectations for school staff and students; and
• maintains an orderly, purposeful learning environment.

Evidence of outstanding contributions to the well-being of the educational community will include:

• ways in which the principal’s leadership has benefited curriculum, staff morale, community support, student interest, and the learning environment;
• increased or consistently high levels of student achievement as demonstrated on the state-wide assessment   instrument;
• ways in which the principal provides creative leadership to inspire teachers and others to achieve and contribute to the school environment;
• examples of service or achievements above and beyond what is expected in the usual school program; and
• ways in which others have acknowledged the principal as a force for positive change.

Note:   Any individual who holds the office of State or NAESP President, President-elect, immediate Past President, NAESP Zone Director, or NAESP State Representative during NAESP's officially designated nomination time period of October 1 to May 31 during the year prior to receiving the national award is ineligible for nomination.