(Harrisburg, PA)— Paula K. Hess, D.Ed., senior advisor to the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, has been selected to receive the prestigious Educational Excellence Award for 2003 from the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals (PA Principals Association). The award, given annually, recognizes a Pennsylvanian who has made significant contributions to public education and who continues to demonstrate a sincere commitment to quality education for all the children of the Commonwealth. The award will be presented to Dr. Hess in a special ceremony during the banquet at PA Principals Association’s eleventh annual state conference, Monday, October 20, 2003, at the Radisson Penn Harris Hotel, Camp Hill, Pa..

Dr. Hess has had a long-term career in the education, political and legislative arenas, beginning as a teacher in the Cornwall-Lebanon School District and as a curriculum coordinator at the Refugee Basic School for Indochinese refugee students at Ft. Indiantown Gap. She has also worked for the Pennsylvania State Education Association and the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators. In 1982, Dr. Hess became the director of legislation in the office of the Republican Majority Leader/Republican Whip, Rep. Samuel E. Hayes, Jr. She has been working in the House of Representatives in some management capacity ever since.

She received a bachelor of arts in sociology and secondary education from Lebanon Valley College and a master’s of education (elementary education) from the Pennsylvania State University. Additionally, she earned a doctorate in education administration from the Pennsylvania State University.

Dr. Hess is a member of Pi Gamma Mu (National Social Science Honor Society) and Phi Delta Kappa Education Honor Society. She was named in Who’s Who of American Women in 1994 and received the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education Special Award in 1975.

PA Principals Association’s mission is to: Assist members in fulfilling their role as instructional leaders and effective managers who promote the best educational program for all students; give members an effective voice in the educational decision-making process at the local, state and national levels; and improve members’ working conditions so that their rights are protected, their job descriptions are reasonable, the importance of their instructional leadership role is recognized and their salaries and fringe benefits are equitable.