WVPRINCIPALS.ORG

Chad Holt (Left) and Dean Warrenfeltz(Right) with Barbara Pryor, Legislative Assistant to Senator Rockefeller

Dean M. Warrenfeltz, principal of Winchester Avenue School in Martinsburg, WV and Chad M. Holt, principal of Clendenin Elementary School in Clendenin, WV attended the annual Federal Relations Conference sponsored by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) in Washington, D.C.  This meeting focuses on grassroots participation by school administrators who bring the principal’s voice to the U.S. Congress.  Citing research by the Wallace Foundation, “leadership is second only to classroom instruction among all school-related factors that contribute to what students learn in school.”  Accordingly, Warrenfeltz and Holt urged U.S. Senators and Representatives to make it a national priority to empower school principals to be key decision makers and enhance their role as effective instructional leaders.  The principals visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday and focused their remarks on the multifaceted role of the school principal. 

NAESP President Nancy Davenport presided at the conference.  NAESP Government Relations staff briefed the group on NAESP’s message to Congress.  Other sessions included a panel of congressional staff members who offered their insights into education policy in the 111^th Congress and a session entitled, “Education Funding in a Time of Madness.”   

Warrenfeltz has served for over ten years as West Virginia’s federal relations coordinator for NAESP.  Holt will be taking over that role on behalf of WVAEMSP.

Michael D. "Mickey" White, West Virginia 2008 National Distinguished Principal

    Michael D. “Mickey” White,  Principal of Holden Elementary School, Logan County has been named West Virginia National Distinguished Principal for 2008-2009.  Mickey is the son of Maurice and Joy White.  He resides at Stollings, West Virginia with his wife, Mary. Mickey and Mary have two children; Matthew,  a Staff Sergeant serving in the U.S. Air Force; and Meredith, a sophomore at Mountain State University.

For the past 21 years of his 34 year tenure as an educator, Mickey has served as a principal.  He has been very active in his Professional Association, serving as President of West Virginia Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals four times as well as holding a variety of county and other state offices.  He has attended a number of state and national conferences. 

Mickey served as the first President of Student Government at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College where his dedication led him to serve on the Board of Directors for 16 years. He has served as an adjunct professor for SWVCTC, as well.  In 2003, Mickey was Named  West Virginia Reading Principal of the year.

The National Distinguished Principal Award is a National Program sponsored by the United States Secretary of Education Office, National Association of Elementary Schools, and Vilac.  The individual receiving this honor, is chosen from a group of nominees/applicants who are nominated and chosen by their peers of their state.  All 50 States in the United States of America, military affiliated schools abroad, and other area affiliates have National Distinguished Principals named and honored in October with a visit to Washington D.C. where they are honored with a lavish dinner and ball along with visits to National Departments.

West Virginia is currently in the process of choosing the 2009 National Distinguished Principal of West Virginia.  For any and all interested in nominating a peer, please notify the WVAEMSP Office.

The executive director training at National Headquarters

Hello and welcome to WVPRINCIPALS.ORG. As executive director of the West Virginia Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals,  it is my pleasure to  introduce this new Web site. You can find out more about us, discover education-related links, find our sponsors, our officers, information regarding membership, etc. 

Readers can add comments/questions to any post on this site (notice the “Add Comments” button below). This might take some getting used to, but over time I expect we’ll find great value in such a capability.

Lastly, and most importantly, this site will now function as the primary mean of communication with members and the public. Please sign-up to receive email notifications when the site is updated by clicking here. This will ensure you remain informed regarding issues of importance to school principals across West Virginia.

I hope your school year is going well and I look forward to communicating further with you via this Web site. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions, or again, leave a comment below.