National Distinguished Principals Program
A Program to Recognize Excellence in Elementary and Middle Level School Leadership
Sponsored by the National Association of Elementary School Principals; in cooperation with the United States Department of Education.
Congratulations on your nomination! I look forward to receiving your application soon. Please feel free to contact me at 719.528.6906 or email Taylor Smith if you have questions.
NDP 2011 Nominee's Application Packet
The deadline for submitting the completed application is now closed.
ACSI participates in the National Distinguished Principals Program as part of the private schools represented in the Council for American Private Schools (CAPE). A special ACSI selection committee has been established to select our Christian school representative. Our final candidate will be submitted to the National Selection Committee by May 3, 2011.
Elementary school NDP candidates must be principals of schools with students in either grades pre-K, K, 1, 2, 3, or 4, though older students may attend as well.
Middle level school NDP candidates must be principals of schools with students in grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and/or 8 only.
Program Background
The National Distinguished Principals (NDP) program was established in 1984 to recognize elementary and middle level principals who set high standards for instruction, student achievement, character, and climate for the students, families, and staffs in their learning communities. The program was based on three fundamental ideas:
- Children’s attitudes towards learning and their perceptions of themselves as lifelong learners are established in the beginning school years.
- The scope and quality of children’s educational experiences are determined primarily by the school principal, who establishes, through the important work of teachers and the support of caring parents, the character of a particular school’s program.
- The dedication and enthusiasm of the outstanding principals who guide children’s early education experiences should be acknowledged to both show appreciation for their work as well as to allow them to serve as models for others in the field.
The NDP Program is sponsored by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) in cooperation with the United States Department of Education. Each year, NDPs represent pre-K–8th grade public schools from all across the country as well as principals in U.S. private schools and those from the United States Departments of Defense Office of Educational Activity and the United States Department of State Office of Overseas Schools. Public school elementary and middle-level principals are nominated by peers in their state, and final selections are made by committees appointed by each of NAESP’s state affiliate offices. Honorees from private schools and overseas schools are selected by special committees.
Criteria established by the United States Department of Education and NAESP require that the individual is a practicing principal with at least five years experience in the principalship, who plans to continue as a practicing principal. The principal must demonstrate evidence of outstanding contributions to the community and to the education profession and should lead a school that:
- Is clearly committed to excellence;
- Has programs designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students; and
- Has firm ties to parents and the community.
We were pleased to receive your name as a nominee to participate in the National Distinguished Principal Program sponsored by the National Association of Elementary School. Please review carefully the instructions for completing the application packet. It would be best if your submission is typed. Every question should be answered and all categories are to be completed. You may want to solicit the help of other office personnel or administrative leadership to assist you in completing your application. The emphasis in the application process is placed on your contributions to the professionalism of your staff and how that has contributed to the achievement levels of the student in your school. Quantitative data to substantiate your accomplishments is what has made the difference in ACSI member school candidates who became recipients.
The National Distinguished Principals program does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ethnicity, age, religion, country of origin, or sexual orientation.