Do you know or work with an outstanding middle school principal? If your answer is “YES,” we encourage you to submit a nomination for the 2025 Middle School Principal of the Year Award.
 

LEFT TO RIGHT: CAS President Amy Yost; CSDE Deputy Commissioner Dr. Charles Hewes; 2024 Middle School Principal of the Year Dr. Kristy Zaleta; CAS Executive Director Dr. Glenn Lungarini

The Principal of the Year Award Program was established in 1984 to bring recognition to exemplary secondary school principals and to increase public awareness of the critical role that principals play in the education of our youth. The program is designed to honor outstanding principals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership, a passion for educational excellence, a deep commitment to their students and staff and ongoing service to their communities. 

If, after reviewing the eligibility requirements below, you feel that a middle school principal whom you know is a viable candidate for this honor, please complete the online nomination form or have it completed by someone within the district who knows the candidate. All nominations must be submitted no later than midnight on December 9, 2024. Your nominee will be informed of this nomination and asked to complete an awards application. All candidates must have served as a principal at one or more middle level schools for three or more consecutive school years.

Individuals nominated for the Middle School Principal of the Year Awards are notified of their nomination and invited to move forward in the awards process by completing a written application. The CAS Awards and Recognition Committee, a selection committee consisting of active and retired principals and assistant principals, will review applications and conduct a site visit at the schools of the highest rated candidates. Winners will then be chosen based upon the outcome of the site visit as well as the quality of the written application.

The selected winner will be recognized locally by CAS and will represent Connecticut in the competition for the 2025 National Middle School Principal of the Year Award sponsored by NASSP. For additional information on the National Principal of the Year Program, visit the NASSP website.

The CAS Awards and Recognition Committee reserves the right to reject any and all candidates in a category if they do not fulfill the criteria for the award. In making its decisions, the Awards and Recognition Committee will consider each candidate’s professional qualities and achievements as outlined in the application and his/her contributions to the profession. Prior winners will not be considered.

We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to provide state and national recognition to deserving school administrators. Only one nomination per level per district will be accepted. All nominations must be endorsed by the district superintendent. Please click here to submit your nomination.

* CAS sponsors separate recognition opportunities for elementary and high school principals.
** House principals are eligible for our Assistant Principal of the Year Awards Program.
 

 
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Board members of NASSP are ineligible for consideration for one year after completion of their board service. Officers of CAS are ineligible to participate in the program during the period in which they hold any office.
• Candidate must notify NASSP immediately of any change in his or her status as principal. Failure to notify NASSP of change could jeopardize a candidate’s eligibility for the national award.
• Candidate must be an active principal, headmaster, or leader of a virtual, public, or private middle level or high school from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, or the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools. Middle level and high schools are defined as those containing some portion of grades 6 through 12.
• Candidate must have served as a principal at one or more middle level or high schools for three or more consecutive school years at the time of nomination.
• Candidate must complete the online NASSP National Principal of the Year application.
• Each candidate must be a principal, headmaster, or leader at a middle level or high school and a member of NASSP and CAS at the time of selection or tenure as state principal of the year. For national finalists, these conditions must also be met at the time of national principal of the year interviews, when the national winner is announced, and during tenure.
• Previous state and/or national winners are ineligible. 

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
The selected principal must show success in the following areas:

• shaping a school culture that is student-centered, promotes equity, and fosters emotional and physical well-being and safety;
• involving students and staff in organizational decision-making and providing opportunities to empower them to be leaders;
• building and sustaining positive relationships with students, staff and parents/community members;
• fostering a collaborative environment that encourages parent input and strengthens school-community connections;
• commitment to continuous learning;
• building systems and supports that have a positive impact on student achievement; and,
• fostering innovation and creativity as part of the learning process and ensuring that students will succeed in a globally competitive society.