Principal of the Year Recognition Program (POY)
Overview
Each year, the Principal of the Year Recognition Program (POY) recognizes outstanding elementary, middle, and high school principals in Louisiana public education. The program emphasizes the vital contribution that talented leaders make in motivating and supporting school staff as they strive to have their campuses become effective centers of student learning.
In early spring each district may nominate three candidates employed by the district: one each at the elementary, middle/junior high, and high school levels. The selection of candidates shall be made through established procedures, to perhaps include principal, teacher, parent, and community recommendations and opinions. System nominees complete an application packet and deliver it to the Department of Education, Division of Leadership and Technology in Baton Rouge. After all applications have been received, representatives from each of the eight regions form Regional Selection Committees to evaluate another region’s applications and choose one elementary, middle, and high school winner to advance to the state level competition.
These 24 Regional Winners are interviewed in Baton Rouge and are expected to present professional portfolios providing evidence that they have met the Standards for Educational Leaders in Louisiana and that they demonstrate collaborative and instructional leadership as well as leadership by personalization. They will be honored at the Educational Excellence Symposium held in July. One exceptional principal in each of the three categories (elementary, middle, and high) is announced at the Educational Excellence Symposium and honored as the State Level Principal of the Year.
Principals of the Year are invited to serve on state committees concerning such topics as curricular development, school leadership, and accountability. In addition, they may be invited to showcase model programs at their schools or to host school visits by Department of Education representatives or other groups. Recipients also may be invited to serve as facilitators or presenter at meetings, conferences, or training activities.
Requirements
Though membership in a specific state and/or national organization is not required for participation in the Louisiana Principals of the Year Program, the national competition requires that candidates be members of:
- Either the National Association for Elementary School Principals (NAESP) or the National Association for Secondary School Principals, and
- The state affiliate for those organizations, the Louisiana Association of Principals (LAP).
Contact Information
Cathy St. Romain
Educational Technology Consultant
Division of Leadership & Technology
Office of Educator Support
Louisiana Department of Education
2758-D Brightside Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70820
Phone: (225) 763-8586
Fax: (225) 763-8592
Cathy.StRomain@la.gov
