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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 jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), in corporate sponsorship with AIG Retirement. 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
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Dr. Gail M. Swor, 2008 MESPA National Distinguished Principal. (To read about Dr. Swor and her principalship, click on her photo.)
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 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 2008 ceremonies area scheduled for October 16-17.

To read more about Minnesota's 2008 NDP Dr. Gail M. Swor, click here and visit the MESPA
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2008 National Distinguished Principal Dr. Gail Swor being honored in Washington D.C.
Press Room. To share in the ideas, programs, and practices created and implemented by NDPs nationwide that have contributed to a positive school environment and helped raise student achievement, click here to visit the NAESP Web site.

The other two finalists for the 2008 Minnesota NDP were: 
  • Joan Steffes-Franks, principal at Armatage Community and Montessori School, Minneapolis
  • Stacy De Corsey, principal at Jordan Elementary School, Jordan
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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2008 National Distinguished Principal slide show -- check out Minnesota's Dr. Gail Swor (slide 25)!



IN THIS SECTION

National Distinguished Principals Honored in Washington D.C.
Sixty-two outstanding elementary and middle school principals from schools across the nation were honored as 2008 National Distinguished Principals (NDP) by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the U.S. Department of Education, on October 16-17 in Washington, D.C. To view a slide show of the distinguished principals, scroll to the bottom of this page. Check out Minnesota's own Dr. Gail M. Swor on slide 25!

Gail Connelly, executive director of NAESP, commended the 62 principals for being role models for school leadership throughout the nation and the world. “For the past 25 years, our National Distinguished Principals program has provided us with a unique opportunity to recognize exceptional principals and their commitment to creating successful learning communities,” Connelly said. “We are all indebted to these visionary leaders who represent thousands of principals who every day are preparing our children for bright futures, which in turn impacts every aspect of our society.”



Mission: The Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association is dedicated to promoting and improving education for children and youth, strengthening the role as educational leader for elementary and middle level principals, and collaborating with partners in education to assist in achieving these goals.

Leading schools toward excellence through the MESPA vision to be the premiere resource for preparing today's principals for tomorrow and a strong leading voice for public education.

Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association
1667 North Snelling Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108
651.999.7310     MN toll free 800.642.6807    
Fax: 651.999.7311     E-mail: mespa@mespa.net