Newell named Middle Tennessee Grand Division’s Principal of the Year!
Middle Tennessee Grand Division includes school districts from Cheatham, Metro Nashville, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Murfreesboro City, Stewart, Sumner, Williamson, Franklin Special, Wilson, Lebanon Special, Bedford, Coffee, Manchester City, Tullahoma City, Franklin, Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Fayetteville City, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Perry, Wayne, Tennessee School for the Blind, York Institute, White, Warren, VanBuren, Trousdale, Smith, Putnam, Pickett, Overton, Macon, Jackson, Fentress, DeKalb, Bledsoe, Cumberland, Clay, and Cannon,
Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced the finalists for the 2016-17 Tennessee Principal of the Year award this week. The nine finalists represent each Center of Regional Excellence (CORE) region in the state, with three finalists in each Grand Division, West, Middle and East. Grand Division winners and the Principal of the Year will be selected from this group and announced on Oct. 25, 2016, during the department’s LEAD Conference.
Robin Newell, Principal, Mitchell-Neilson School, is one of three principals representing the Middle Tennessee Region.
“I was deeply humbled to even be nominated. However, this award is about our whole school, not just me,” says Robin Newell, Principal. “Mitchell-Neilson had a huge paradigm shift three years ago when we adopted The Leader in Me. This mindset—for both children and adults–is key to the culture of our school and what makes it such a great place to be! Both educators and children serve on committees, plan grade-level and school-wide events, and present information to community organizations. I’m just one piece of that great puzzle.”
“Leadership matters. As I’ve traveled around the state, I have seen the significant impact a strong school leader has on teachers’ successes and students’ progress,” Commissioner McQueen said. “Principals set the tone and expectations that drive student learning in their buildings, and I commend these finalists for the ways in which they have set a high bar for the profession.”
The nine finalists for 2016-17 Principal of the Year are:
West Tennessee
| CORE Region | Principal | School | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby/Municipals | Docia Generette-Walker | Middle College High School | Shelby County Schools |
| Southwest | Lillie Treadway | Ripley Primary School | Lauderdale County School System |
| Northwest | Charlotte Shivley | East Elementary School | Humboldt City Schools |
Middle Tennessee
| CORE Region | Principal | School | District |
| Mid Cumberland | Robin Newell | Mitchell-Neilson Schools | Murfreesboro City Schools |
| South Central | Tina Weatherford | Joseph Brown Elementary School | Maury County Public Schools |
| Upper Cumberland | Grant Swallows | White County High School | White County Schools |
East Tennessee
| CORE Region | Principal | School | District |
| Southeast | Glen Puryear | Rogers Creek Elementary School | McMinn County School System |
| East Tennessee | Beth Roeder | Andersonville Elementary School | Anderson County Schools |
| First Tennessee | Susan Trent | Surgoinsville Elementary Schools | Hawkins County School District |
“Robin is a shining example of a principal who believes in the whole child approach. She understands the vision of this school district and its focus on children. She has the respect of her students, faculty and parents,” says Linda Gilbert, Director of Schools. “Robin’s knowledge and passion for children shows in her daily work. We are extremely proud of Robin and this nomination.”
The Tennessee Principal of the Year award is given annually to a school leader for outstanding service in education and exceptional leadership that drives overall improvements in his or her school. To qualify, candidates must have a minimum of three years’ experience as a principal and a minimum of five years’ experience in Tennessee public schools. In addition, all nominees must have a proven track record of exceptional gains in student learning.