NAESP Honors the 2024 Class of NAESP National Distinguished Principals
The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) recognizes 37 exemplary elementary and middle-level principals from across the nation and abroad as the 2024 class of NAESP National Distinguished Principals (NDPs).
The pre-K-8 principals are in Washington, D.C., from Oct. 10-11, to participate in two days of events, including a White House tour and meetings at the U.S. Department of Education, that culminate in an awards banquet to honor their accomplishments.
Meet the 2024 Class of NAESP NDPs
- Shannon W. McCaskey, Frances Nungester Elementary School, Alabama
- Heather L. Conn, Rae C. Stedman Elementary School, Alaska
- Andrew J. Gutierrez, Gateway Elementary School, Arizona
- Patrick J. Schumaker, Chinook Trail Elementary School, Colorado
- Scott T. Jeffrey, Highland Elementary School, Connecticut
- Carol L. Leveillee, Frederick Douglass Elementary School, Delaware
- Angela Murphy-Osborne, Hamlin Elementary School, Florida
- Brittney F. Mobley, Frances Meeks Elementary School, Georgia
- Dale M. Arakaki, Pauoa Elementary School, Hawaii
- Ellen M. Austin, Paul Elementary School, Idaho
- Bridget E. Belcastro, Johnsburg Elementary School, Illinois
- Jason R. Groendyke, East Elementary School, Iowa
- Charles C. Swan II, Dirigo Elementary School, Maine
- Raegon B. Clutz Jr., Pangborn Elementary School, Maryland
- Melissa Shindel, Glenwood Middle School, Maryland
- Carmen Maring, Gull Lake Middle School, Michigan
- Fatima T. Lawson, Highwood Hills Elementary, A Polytechnic Program School, Minnesota
- Morgan Abraham, Sudduth Elementary School, Mississippi
- Nathan Burch, Claymont Elementary School, Missouri
- Stacy S. Lemelin, Meadowlark Elementary School, Montana
- Becky L. Wing, Henry W. Moore School, New Hampshire
- Lindsay Gooditis, Franklin Township School, New Jersey
- Janice H. Rodriguez, Ocotillo Elementary School, New Mexico
- Amanda Meier, Lewis and Clark Elementary School, North Dakota
- Lynne Stark, Vincent Elementary School, Ohio
- Ashley K. Hoggatt, D.D. Kirkland Elementary School, Oklahoma
- Brian W. Swartzlander Jr., Kiski Area Upper Elementary School, Pennsylvania
- Bridget E. Boucher, Francis J. Varieur Elementary School, Rhode Island
- Julie M. Hatling, North Park and South Park Elementary Schools, South Dakota
- DeeAnne E. Miree, Cambridge Early Learning Center, Tennessee
- Wendy W. Prater, W.R. Fort Elementary School, Texas
- Rachel B. Alberts, Sunburst Elementary School, Utah
- Giuliana N. Brink, O.B. Gates Elementary School, Virginia
- Cathy Sork, Dorothy Fox Elementary School, Washington
- Scott Schiller, Southside Elementary School, Wyoming
- Courtney D. Bailey, Cairo American College, U.S. Department of State, Egypt
- Kimberly S. Dunn, Dexter Elementary School, U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity, Georgia
About the NAESP NDP Program
Since 1984, the NAESP National Distinguished Principal program has recognized public and private school principals who make superior contributions to their schools and communities and has given them the opportunity to share best practices with each other.
NAESP state affiliates, as well as the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools and the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity, selected these 37 principal honorees, who join 2,327 principals before them who also call themselves NAESP NDPs.