Boston schools, principals honored at annual Leadership Conference

BOSTON – More than 140 principals and headmasters gathered this week for the 2009 Boston Public Schools Leadership Conference, along with teacher leaders, district administrators and other educators. The three-day conference at the University of Massachusetts Boston culminated with the presentation of awards to schools and principals.

Superintendent Carol R. Johnson and her executive team added an awards program to the annual event this year in order to recognize successful schools and school leaders. Honorees included:

· Principal of the Year: Margarita Muñiz, Rafael Hernández K-8 School, Roxbury;

· Rookie of the Year (first-year principals): Margarita Ruiz, Adams Elementary School, East Boston;

· Family & Community Engagement Award: Tamara Blake, Russell Elementary School, Dorchester;

· Best Student Attendance, Elementary: Suzanne Lee, Quincy Elementary School, Chinatown (97.9% average daily student attendance);

· Best Student Attendance, Middle: Amy Marx, Harbor School, Dorchester (95.3% average daily student attendance);

· Best Student Attendance, High: Lynne Mooney Teta, Boston Latin School, Fenway (96.8% average daily student attendance);

· Best Teacher Attendance: Valerie Gumes, Haynes Early Education Center, Roxbury (99.5% average daily teacher attendance);

· Most Improved School in Mathematics: Catherine Constant, Holmes Elementary School, Dorchester;

· Most Improved School in English Language Arts: Nadia Cyprien, Monument High School, South Boston;

District officials also honored retiring principals and headmasters for their years of service to the Boston Public Schools:

· Antonio Barbosa, Winship Elementary School, Brighton, 37 years;

· Maria Garcia-Aaronson, Boston Latin Academy, Dorchester, 32 years;

· Carlos Gibb, Ellis Elementary School, Roxbury, 36 years;

· Rosemary Harmon, Farragut Elementary School, Mission Hill, 22 years (pictured here with Superintendent Johnson);

· William Henderson, O’Hearn Elementary School, Dorchester, 36 years;

· Suzanne Lee, Quincy Elementary School, Chinatown, 35 years;

· Michele O’Connell, Holland Elementary School, Dorchester, 37 years;

· Virginia Ordway-Macrina, Odyssey High School, South Boston, 32 years;

· Joanne Russell, Jackson-Mann K-8 School, Allston, 46 years;

· Emily Shamieh, Winthrop Elementary School, Dorchester, 23 years;

· Elliot Stern, Academic Superintendent for K-8 and Middle Schools, formerly Edison Middle School, Brighton, 38 years;

· Gloria Woods, Mattahunt Elementary School, Mattapan, 37 years;

The Leadership Institute for principals and headmasters historically has taken place in mid-August. This year, Dr. Johnson convened the group at the end of the school year in order to inform summer planning for the 2009-2010 school year based on the district’s academic priorities. The conference featured keynote addresses from national education experts, workshops, greetings from Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the Boston School Committee, health and wellness activities, a student art gallery, and music and dance performances by BPS students and staff.