Arlington, Va.—Twelve outstanding Catholic elementary school principals will receive the 2011 Distinguished Principal Award from the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) during a ceremony at its annual convention and exposition April 26–28 in New Orleans, La.
Representing 12 regions throughout the country, the award winners were nominated by their diocesan superintendents. Colleagues, parents and students supported each nomination with letters describing the principals' leadership qualities and contributions to Catholic education.
"Through their faith-filled leadership and dedication to excellence, these outstanding principals provide the best in Catholic education to students, families and communities across the country," said Brother Robert Bimonte, executive director of the NCEA Department of Elementary Schools. "They are a gift to the Catholic Church and shining examples for all educators to emulate."
Recipients of the 2011 Distinguished Principal Award include the following:
· Sharon Bresler, St. Thomas School, Ft. Thomas, Ky.
· Joana Camacho, Sacred Heart Catholic School, Oklahoma City, Okla.
· Kristin Dixon, Our Lady of Guadalupe School, Seattle, Wash.
· Barbara Gasparini, St. Eugene's Cathedral School, Santa Rosa, Calif.
· Sister Joanita Koors, St. Mary's School, North Vernon, Ind.
· Sister Elizabeth Marley, St. Jude Catholic Education Center, Chalfont, Pa.
· Richard Montgomery, St. Mary School, Derby, Kan.
· James Mulé, St. Amelia School, Tonawanda, N.Y.
· Jane Schmidt, Highland Catholic School, St. Paul, Minn.
· Yvonne Schwab, St. James the Less Catholic School, Columbus, Ohio
· Andree Tostevin, St. John’s Catholic School, Brunswick, Maine
· Kathryn Wood, Queen of Angels Catholic School, Roswell, Ga.
About the Convention
NCEA's annual convention and expo, which draws educators, administrators, pastors and parents from throughout the nation, will offer general sessions, liturgies, departmental meetings, and development and technology sessions. The event at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will also feature an exhibition of the latest in educational products.
Keynote speakers will include Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking and noted death penalty opponent, and Father Michael Himes, professor of theology at Boston College and frequent speaker on Christian theology, sacramental principles and ethics.
The 35th anniversary convocation of the National Association of Parish Catechetical Directors and the annual meeting of the Catholic Library Association will take place concurrently with the NCEA convention.
NCEA, founded in 1904, is a professional membership organization that provides leadership, direction and service to fulfill the evangelizing, catechizing and teaching mission of the church. NCEA's members include elementary schools, high schools, parish religious education programs and seminaries.
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