Do you know or work with an outstanding elementary school principal? If your answer is “YES,” we encourage you to submit a nomination for the 2026 Elementary School Principal of the Year Award.
 

LEFT TO RIGHT: CAS President Joe Blake; CSDE Deputy Commissioner Dr. Charles Hewes; 2025 Elementary Principal of the Year Bryan Kerachsky; CAS Executive Director Dr. Glenn Lungarini

The Connecticut Association of Schools has opened nominations for the 2026 Elementary School Principal of the Year Award. This award is designed to recognize outstanding elementary school principals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership, a deep commitment to their students and staff, ongoing service to their communities and contributions to the overall profession of school administration.

If you feel that an elementary principal in your school or district is eligible for this honor (see criteria below), please complete the online nomination form and submit two one-page letters of recommendation and a copy of the nominee’s résumé no later than midnight on January 15, 2026.

Finalists for the Elementary Principal of the Year Award will be chosen by the CAS Elementary Principal of the Year Selection Committee. The finalists will be asked to complete an award application packet and to submit a professional portfolio. The committee will select the state winner after reviewing the finalists’ applications and portfolios and visiting their respective schools.

All nominees must be members of CAS and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and must have at least five years of experience as a school principal. The individual selected for the CT Elementary Principal of the Year Award must be an active administrator in Connecticut during the year in which he or she will receive the award (the 2026-2027 school year). In order to be eligible for recognition by NAESP as a National Distinguished Principal (NDP), the individual selected as the CT Elementary Principal of the Year must have been an NAESP member for at least one year at the time of nomination and must maintain membership through the conclusion of the NAESP Award Ceremony (October 2026). The winner will be honored at the state level by CAS even if ineligible for national recognition.

NOTE: Anyone currently holding a position on the NAESP Board of Directors or serving as an officer of CAS during the official nomination time period or during the year of recognition is ineligible for selection. Only one nomination per level per district will be accepted. All nominations must be endorsed by the district superintendent. Previous finalists may not re-apply for a period of three years.

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ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

All nominees must:

• be a member of CAS and NAESP at the time of the nomination and maintain those memberships through the end of the state and national award ceremonies (Fall 2026).  In order to be eligible for national recognition, the nominee must have been a member of NAESP for at least one year as of May 2026.
• have been an active elementary school principal for at least five years at the time of nomination. Only those years served as a building principal may count toward the necessary five.
• remain in active service in a position of school leadership during the year in which he or she serves as the Elementary Principal of the Year and/or National Distinguished Principal (the 2026-2027 school year).
• show a strong commitment to the principalship through active membership in professional associations.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

The selected principal must:

• be an active principal of a school in which a commitment to excellence is clearly evident through programs designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students, and through firmly established community ties with parents and local business organizations.
• be respected by students, colleagues, parents, and the community at large.
• assume an active role in the community and be a recognized leader in civic, religious, or humanitarian activities.
• show strong educational leadership by setting high expectations for school staff and students.
• maintain an orderly, purposeful learning environment.
• have positively impacted curriculum, staff morale, community support, student interest, and the learning environment.
• show strong educational leadership leading to increased or consistently high levels of student achievement.
• provide creative leadership to inspire and motivate others to achieve and contribute positively to the school environment.
• demonstrate service and/or achievements above and beyond what is expected in the usual school program.
• be a force for constructive, positive change.