The National Distinguished Principals (NDP) Program was established
in 1984 as an annual event to honor exemplary elementary and middle
school principals who set the pace, character, and quality of the
education children receive during their early school years. The
program is sponsored by
MESPA and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), in
corporate sponsorship with VALIC. The program highlights the
fundamental importance of the school principal in achieving educational
excellence for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students. The
recognition afforded by the NDP designation instills pride in
principals' accomplishments and reinforces their continued leadership
in helping children develop a lifelong love of learning. One
principal is chosen annually from each of the 50 states and the
District  | | Joan Franks, 2011 Minnesota National Distinguished Principal. (To read about Joan Franks and her principalship, click on her photo.) |
of Columbia. Public school principals are nominated by peers
in their home states, and the final selection (based on applications
submitted by each nominee) are made by each state's NAESP affiliate.
(MESPA selects the Minnesota NDP.) NDP awards ceremonies take place in
Washington, D.C., each fall. The 2011 ceremonies area scheduled for October 20-21.
To read more about Minnesota's 2011 NDP Joan Franks, click here.
The other two finalists for the 2011 Minnesota NDP were:
- Michelle Krell, principal at Kasson-Mantorville Elementary in Kasson-Mantorville
- Debra Sauter, principal at Laura MacArthur Elementary in Duluth
MESPA is proud of all three individuals and wishes them the very best as they continue in their education administrator careers.
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