Kingswood's Sue Sisson Named Principal Of Year;
Assistant Principal Of Year: Sally Reynolds At Poe
Kingswood Elementary School Principal Sue Sisson, has been awarded the Wake school system's top administrative honor, Wake County Principal of the Year. The award was announced at the school district's annual Principal of the Year celebration in Cary Tuesday night (October 17). Poe Elementary School's Sally Reynolds was named Assistant Principal of the Year.
Ms. Sisson's Wake County career began in 1980 when she was dean of students at Wake Forest-Rolesville High School, a position she held five years. She was also an assistant principal at Enloe High School for two years and at Cary Elementary for a year. She's been principal at Kingswood since 1991. The school earned School of Distinction honors in 1997 under the State ABCs of Public Education program, School of Excellence in 1998, 1999 and 2000, and also was among the Top 25 Most Improved Schools in the state in 1999 and 2000.
Those accomplishments in growth in student achievement came about, in part, through the principal's leadership in helping faculty develop techniques for individualizing instruction, a consistent instructional program, a writing program across grade levels, a math-pacing guide for the school, curriculum agreements to avoid overlap, and increased focus on technology.
Ms. Sisson has helped arrange training for staff on developing critical thinking skills, better understanding whole language, curriculum alignment with the N.C. Standard Course of Study, conflict resolution and mediation, diversity, and different learning styles.
Ms. Sisson describes her leadership style this way: "Shared leadership enables me to value the human spirit through reaching out to others with courage, compassion, and heart."
"Sue is a risk-taker," said Dyane Barnett on behalf of the Kingswood staff. "She continuously asks, 'How can we be more effective educators?' When the teachers' response was 'smaller class size,' she started the process of converting positions to provide us with more classroom teachers. Later, when the response was 'technology,' she lobbied the PTA for help, converted her media specialist position, and signed a personal lease so all teachers would have five computers in their classroom. As an administrator, Sue makes it her top priority to know if there is a child in need. She has consistently proven that being a proactive advocate for children is her first job. That's why we have students who share statements like, 'I never felt like anyone cared until I came to Kingswood.'"
Programs the principal spearheaded at Kingswood include monthly grade team meetings, a parent talent search to identify parent strengths as a school resource, a quarterly celebration of success, and kudos cards from parents and colleagues to teachers and staff. Also, her school established Kids in Service (KIS), where every grade level completes a community service project each year, and started the Commit One program where parents are asked to commit one hour, chaperone one field trip, support one learning experience, etc. One group of parents is fondly called Technology Angels because of their commitment to provide hardware and software for every classroom.
Ms. Sisson said, "I am very involved in the community and try to respond to every opportunity to represent our school as an ambassador and advocate. We are very fortunate to have wonderful support from our community."
Assistant Principal of the Year Sally Reynolds has been at Poe Elementary in that role since 1998. Before that, she was assistant principal at Kingswood Elementary for two years, and also worked there was an assistant principal intern, resource teacher, teacher of academically gifted, and she taught fourth grade. She also taught previously at Oak Grove Elementary and in Dallas, TX.
Poe Elementary, like Kingswood, was listed among the Top 25 Most Improved Schools under the ABCs program for 2000.
She's very active at her school, serving on the Student Support team, Leadership Team, Budget Committee, School-Based Committee for Gifted Education, Technology Committee, Staff Development Committee, and Title I Committee.
She describes her leadership style as focusing on building positive relationships with students, staff, parents, and community and involving these groups in making decisions, when appropriate. "I ensure that all decisions are made in the best interest of children and that these decisions support our vision of what an effective school should be."
Principal Moira O'Connor describes Ms. Reynolds as a consummate self-starter who is adaptable. "Academic success for all students is of prime concern. She enthusiastically supports teachers to assure the classroom environment provides every opportunity for students success."
Other finalists for Assistant Principal of the Year were Judy Andersen, Olive Chapel Elementary School; Bob Umstead, Swift Creek Elementary School; Elaine Hanzer, Ligon Middle School; and Diann Kearney, Sanderson High School.
In addition to Ms. Sisson, other finalists for Principal of the Year were Marge Ronco, Lincoln Heights Elementary School; Muriel Summers, Combs Elementary School; Sue Tripp, Apex Middle School; and Richard Murphy, Leesville High School.
Ms. Sisson receives $1,000, and Ms. Reynolds $500 for the honor. Each of the principal finalists also will receive an additional $500, and assistant principals, $250.
The finalists were chosen by nomination from Wake County Public School principals. A selection committee made up of community leaders, school personnel, retired school personnel, and Teacher of the Year Holly Budzinski from Green Hope High chose the winners based on their written portfolios, site visits, and personal interviews.