Linda C. Wood selected as Virginia’s 2011 National
Distinguished Principal
CHESTER, VIRGINIA – June 14, 2011—Linda C. Wood, principal of Harrowgate Elementary in Chester, VA was selected as Virginia’s 2011 National Distinguished Principal. The 2011 celebration marks the 28th year that the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) has presented this prestigious award. The National Distinguished Principals program is made possible through the corporate sponsorship of VALIC, an industry leader currently managing long-term investment programs for more than 28,000 education, healthcare, public sector and other not-for-profit and for-profit organizations in more than 41,000 locations—representing nearly 2 million investors throughout the country.
Ms. Wood received her award in a surprise presentation in front of her students, community and staff at her school on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. In attendance to honor Ms. Wood were: Superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools, Dr. Marcus Newsome, School Board member, Marshall Trammell, VAESP Executive Director, James Baldwin, VAESP President-Elect, Deborah Frazier and VAESP Capital Zone Director, Tina Martin. Also present from Chesterfield County Public Schools were: Chief Academic Officer, Donna Dalton, Chief Executive to the Superintendent, Sharon Thomas, Director of Community Relations, Tim Bullis, Director of Instructional Support, Ed Walent, Director of Elementary Education, Marc Bergin, Special Assistant, Office of the Superintendent, Dale Kalkofen, Title I Instructional Specialist, Linda Rector, Harrowgate Assistant Principal, Jodi Seitz.
Ms. Wood was nominated and selected by her fellow principals through a statewide search process conducted by the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals.
Ms. Wood holds degrees from the College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University. She has served as a principal for 6 years and has led Harrowgate Elementary School since 2004.
“At the helm of every successful school is a successful principal,” said Gail Connelly, NAESP’s 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.”
In the fall, Ms. Wood will travel to Washington, D.C., for two days of activities planned to honor and bring well-deserved recognition to the elementary and middle-level educators chosen by the states, the District of Columbia, plus private and overseas schools.
Criteria for selection of the principals, set by NAESP, require that the honorees are active principals of schools where programs are designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students and where there are firmly established community ties with parents and local business organizations.
Ms. Wood was previously honored as recipient of the Richmond Area Reading Council Principal of the Year Award in 2008 and her school has received the 2008 Panasonic National School Change Award and the National Title I Distinguished School Award in 2009. Ms. Wood shares her expertise with the education community by serving as Principal Representative on the Superintendent’s Executive Team and Co-chair of the District Innovation Team for Academic Content. Her dedication to her students and community is evident to all who know her.
Since 1970, The Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals has served as Virginia’s professional educational association and now represents over 1,100 of elementary and middle level principals throughout the state. VAESP maintains close ties with the metropolitan Washington-based National Association of Elementary School Principals and its almost 30,000 members nationwide.
Call James P. Baldwin (VAESP headquarters) at 804-355-6791 for additional information.
