Educators Honored for Accomplishments

Gerald N. Tirozzi (left) and MetLife's Michelle Pedigo present James D. Donnelly with the Principal of the Year Award.

The 2004 MetLife/NASSP National Principals of the Year awards were formally recognized at yesterday's Second General Session for their exceptional achievement as educators.

National Middle School Principal of the Year, Douglas S. Lowery, principal of Hilliard (OH) Memorial Middle School, received the award for initiating a comprehensive exercise physiology program for all students that provides heart monitors and an exercise room furnished with a variety of equipment. His attention to all aspects of students' development has earned the school a variety of awards, including an Ohio Best Practice Award and an Ohio Department of Health Silver Award for Buckeye Best/Healthy Schools.

Tirozzi, Pedigo, and MetLife/ NASSP Middle Level Principal of the Year Douglas S. Lowery.

National High School Principal of the Year, James D. Donnelly Jr., principal of James A. Green High School in Dolgeville, NY, received the award for turning around a school fraught with low expectations and high discipline problems. He created an atmosphere of consistency, collaboration, and high expectations. In addition, Donnelly set out to change the mind-set of an entire community by establishing a student code of conduct that articulated fundamental expectations.

He implemented the middle school team concept in grades 7 and 8 in this 7-12 school to address student academic and social needs.

National middle school finalists Richard Roberto and Norman J. Minehira and national high school finalists Roystene (Rae) E. Darlington and David R. Risinger joined Lowery and Donnelly onstage to be recognized for their accomplishments.

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