Principal of the Year

 

Each year an outstanding public school principal earns distinction as the Tennessee Department of Education Principal of the Year (POY).  This honor is reserved for school leaders who demonstrate superior abilities in:

·         managing and motivating students and faculties;

·         evoking high standards;

·         demonstrating a commitment to excellence;

·         implementing innovative programs; and

·         having a track record of exceptional gains in student learning.

Principals of the Year are selected competitively through four cycles: district, region, grand division, and state. 

Principals selected at each cycle receive local recognition and awards underwritten by local sources. State recognition and awards include a banquet honoring the nine region-level Principals of the Year.

 

2023-24 Principal of the Year

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Of nine Principal of the Year finalists representing Tennessee’s eight CORE regions, as well as the Shelby County-Municipals area, Ms. Tina Francis of Jere Whitson Elementary School in Putnam County Schools was selected as the 2023-24 Tennessee Principal of the Year.

Ms. Francis believes that as a school leader, it is important for her to serve as a role her school is the hub of her community and strives to bring together partners to offer support and opportunities for her students, families, and community members. developing educator capacity and collaboration to increase student achievement, set high expectations, and progress toward closing the achievement gaps for all students. Additionally, Ms. Francis helps her school achieve excellence by focusing on the core values of high expectations, accountability, teamwork, and a growth mindset.

Benefits of Participating in the Tennessee Prinicipal of the Year Program

What are the benefits to principals?

By participating in the Tennessee Principal of the Year program, school leaders have the opportunity to:

·         be celebrated and honored for making exceptional gains with students,

·         expand knowledge of education policy and participate in local, state, and national policy discussions,

·         serve on state-level committees and consult on department initiatives,

·         act as a spokesperson and advocate for the education profession, and

·         become inducted into an amazing network of statewide awardees, and become connected to an impactful, ongoing body of work that engages you as a professional long after an awardee’s service year.

What are the benefits to schools and districts?

By participating in the Tennessee Principal of the Year program, districts and schools have the opportunity to:

·         attract local, state, and national attention,

·         allow the district’s honorees to serve as a voice for the education profession, thus elevating the district and attracting educators and leaders to the district, and

·         celebrate excellence in education by honoring hard working, successful school leaders.

What does the Tennessee Principal of the Year do?

·         Respond to and fulfill Tennessee Principal of the Year speaking requests, presentations, etc.

·         Share their expertise with the department.

·         Identify and advocate for educational issues.

Eligibility & Selection Process

A Principal of the Year Nominee must:

  • have a minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in public schools.;
  • have a minimum of one (1) year of experience as a principal; and
  • at all levels of recognition, must be employed as a principal in a Tennessee public school system.

Directors of schools will nominate one principal from each district using the online Principal and Supervisor of the Year Nomination Form

This honor is earned by demonstrating superior abilities in:

·         managing and motivating students and faculties;

·         evoking high standards;

·         demonstrating a commitment to excellence;

·         implementing innovative programs; and

·         having a track record of exceptional gains in student learning

The 2025-26 nomination deadline is December 16, 2024.

Projected 2025-26 Timeline

Dates Process

By Dec. 16, 11:59 p.m. CT

Directors of schools (or their designees) submit the nomination form for Principal of the Year (POY).

Jan. 20

Department sends nominees the link to the electronic Principal of the Year application.

March 24

Principal of the Year nominees submit part I application online.

April

Department sends region-level semi-finalists the link to the electronic Principal of the Year part II application.

June

Scoring committee selects one principal from each CORE region and the Shelby County-Municipals region to advance as a finalist to the interview process.

July

Announcement of the nine Principal of the Year finalists.

Virtual interview held.

Fall 2025

Principal and Supervisor of the Year recognition event in Nashville.

Application Resources

  • 2024-25 Tennessee Principal and Supervisor of the Year Process Overview (click here to watch): This short video provides an overview of the 2024-25 Tennessee Principal and Supervisor of the Year process and what you can expect from each stage in the selection process.
  • Approaching the Part I Principal and Supervisor of the Year Application (click here to watch): This one-hour webinar will dive more deeply into the components of the part I Principal and Supervisor of the Year application.
  • Approaching the Part II Principal and Supervisor of the Year Application (click here to
  • watch): This one-hour webinar will dive more deeply into the components of the part II Principal and Supervisor of the Year application.
  • Part I Application(Coming Soon) : This document contains all questions listed in the electronic application. Districts are encouraged to use this document as a foundation for their own district-level Principal of the Year applications. Applicants are encouraged to use this document to draft and revise application responses prior to submitting via the online form.
  • Part II Application(Coming Soon):  This document contains all questions listed in the electronic application. Applicants are encouraged to use this document to draft and revise application responses prior to submitting via the online form.
  • Principal of the Year Guidebook Applicants(Coming Soon) own district-level Principal of the Year applications. Applicants are encouraged to use this document to draft and revise application responses prior to submitting via the online form.
Year Principal School School System
2022-23 Kyle Loudermilk John Sevier Middle School Kingsport City Schools
2021-22 Chris Hampton Dobyns-Bennett High Kingsport City Schools
Tyler Salyer West Collierville Middle School Collierville Schools
2020-21 Leneda Laing Cleveland Middle School Cleveland City Schools
2019-20 LeAndrea Ware The Howard School Hamilton County Schools
2018-19 Vicki Shipley Munford Middle School Tipton County Schools
2017-18 Robin Copp Ooltewah High School Hamilton County
2016-17 Docia Generette-Walker Middle College High School Shelby County Schools
2015-16 Peggy Greene Ridgeview Elementary School Washington County Schools
2014-15 Ronald Hughes Apison Elementary School Hamilton County Schools
2013-14 Martha Fisher Cascade Elementary School Bedford County Schools
2012-13 Jane Winter Minglewood Elementary Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools
2011-12 Rita White Riverwood Elementary Memphis City Schools
2010-11 Tim Setterlund Collierville High School Shelby County Schools
2009-10 Janice Womble Deery Eakin Primary School Bedford County Schools
2008-09 Warner Ross Bolivar Middle School Hardeman County Schools
2007-08 Scott Owens Rhea Elementary School Paris Special Schools
Margaret McKissick-Larry Avon Lenox School Memphis City Schools
2006-07 Catherine Battle Snowden School Memphis City Schools
2005-06 Rhonda Kennedy Hazelwood Elementary School Clarksville-Montgomery County
2004-05 Philip L. Kiper Bledsoe County Middle School Bledsoe County Schools
2003-04 Deborah Alexander Kingston Elementary School Roane County Schools
2002-03 Robbie Robinson McGowan Mooreland Heights Elementary School Knox County Schools
2001 Dr. Julie Williams Hunters Lane Comprehensive High School Metro/Davidson County Schools
R. Michael Landis West Middle School Tullahoma City Schools
Virginia McNeal Alton Elementary School Memphis City Schools
2000 Tommy Everette Karns High School Knox County Schools
Jerry McNabb Jasper Middle School Marion County Schools
Mickey Hatcher Unicoi Elementary School Unicoi County Schools
1999 David L. Daniel Loretto High School Lawrence County Schools
Donna C. Trevathan Warren County Middle School Warren County Schools
Julia Price Alpha Elementary School Hamblen County Schools
1998 James David Heath Brentwood High School Williamson County Schools
Tom L. Barnard New Providence Middle School Clarksville-Montgomery County
Sue Carmichael Bon DeCroft Elementary School White County Schools
1997 John W. Snider Dyer County High School Dyer County Schools
Elbert Milton Ross East Middle School Metro/Davidson County Schools
Peggy C. Willocks Harold McCormick Elementary School Elizabethton City Schools
1996 Dr. Martha Glover McNairy Central High School McNairy County Schools
James A. Sawyers DuPont Middle School Metro/Davidson County Schools
David Moore Delano Elementary School Memphis City Schools
1995 Vicki Dunaway Powell High School Knox County Schools
Carolyn R. McPherson John Sevier Middle School Kingsport City Schools
Kay Awalt Moore Elementary School Franklin Special School District
1994 Joe Yeager Page High School Williamson County Schools
Donald Allen Rogers Unicoi County Middle School Unicoi County Schools
Dr. Brenda T. Gulledge Highland Elementary School Greeneville City Schools
1993 Shirley Rose Ellis Hampton High School Carter County Schools
Dr. Samuel Humphreys University School Washington County Schools
Dr. Jim Luckey Idlewild Elementary School Memphis City Schools
1991 A. D. Hancock Hunters Lane High School Metro/Davidson County Schools
Thomas W. Hayes Robertsville Junior High School Oak Ridge City Schools
Ben K. Wilson Ingleside Elementary School Athens City Schools