Graves County Central Elementary School Principal and Murray State University alumna Stephanie Sullivan is Kentucky ’s 2009 National Distinguished Principal. The 2009 celebration marks the 26 th year that the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the U.S. Department of Education have presented the prestigious award.

Sullivan was nominated and selected by her fellow principals through a statewide search process conducted by the Kentucky Association of Elementary School Principals. Sullivan has led Central since it opened in the fall of 2004. Since its inception, the school has scored at the proficient level of 100 or above on the Commonwealth Accountability Testing Systems assessment. Sullivan previously was principal of Lowes Elementary for three years, a Graves County Middle School guidance counselor for three years, and a Graves County High School math teacher for eight years. I’m both humbled and honored to be chosen to represent Kentucky and thrilled with the opportunity to visit Washington , D.C.

“Being principal of Central Elementary is extremely rewarding,” says Sullivan. “The students, staff and parents make my job so enjoyable that I look forward to work each day! To know I’m making decisions that affect young lives and their future is very inspiring . I’m grateful to Murray State University for my education that’s helped tremendously in preparing me for every stage of my career.”

As a student, she attended school at Wingo through the 11 th grade and was a member of the first graduating class of GCHS in 1986. In 1990 she earned a bachelor’s degree in math and holds an endorsement for individual intellectual assessment grades K-12 from Murray State . In 1994 she received her master’s degree in guidance counseling from MSU and holds certificates for teaching and guidance counseling on the secondary level, K-12 principal, and instructional leadership supervisor of instruction. She also earned an educational specialist superintendent degree.

“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.”

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, health care, 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.

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n October, Sullivan will travel to Washington , D.C. , for two days of activities planned to honor and bring recognition to the elementary and middle-level educators chosen by the states, the District of Columbia , private and overseas schools.

Criteria for selection of the principals, set by NAESP and the U.S. Department of Education, 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.

Sullivan was named the Graves County Schools’ 2005 Administrator of the Year. She is a member of the District Instructional Leadership Team, Kentucky Leadership Academy , the School Administrative Manager Cohort, KAESP, and NAESP.

She also serves as a Kentucky Principal Intern Preparation Program mentor. She recently taught as an adjunct professor for Bellarmine University in preparing a cohort of aspiring principals among Graves County teachers. She has presented instructional leadership practices at conferences of the Kentucky School Boards Association and the Kentucky Association of School Administrators.

“At Graves County Schools we place emphasis on continuing education,” adds Sullivan. “In our district, we truly are lifelong learners!”

Sullivan has participated in numerous church, community and charitable projects as well. She and her husband, Matt Sullivan, live in Wingo and are the parents of three children: Courtney, 15; Mattison, 10; and Canaan, 2.

KAESP is affiliated with NAESP. The national organization is based in Washington , D.C. , and is comprised of some 30,000 members.