(HARRISBURG, PA-June 15, 2007) – Ms. Kathryn (Kate) Taylor, principal of Grandview Elementary School in Morrisville, Pa., was selected as Pennsylvania’s 2007 National Distinguished Principal. The 2007 celebration marks the 24th year the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the U.S. Department of Education have presented this prestigious award.

“Ms. Taylor was nominated and selected by her fellow principals through a statewide search process conducted by the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals (PA Principals Association),” said PA Principals Association president Dr. Barbara Rudiak.

A graduate of Rowan College, Ms. Taylor previously held the position of classroom teacher in both the Philadelphia Parochial School System and Baltimore County Public School system. She also served as an assistant principal in the Baltimore County public school system and taught as an adjunct professor at Western Maryland College. She has served as a principal of Grandview Elementary School since 2000.

“Research results prove what school communities know from experience – successful schools depend on dedicated instructional leaders,” said Vincent L. Ferrandino, NAESP executive director. “This honor represents our deep appreciation to a few of those who are committed to academic, social and emotional development of school children both in the nation and overseas.”

The National Distinguished Principals’ program is made possible through the corporate sponsorship of AIG VALIC, an industry leader currently managing long-term investment programs for more than 28,000 education, healthcare, public sector and other not-for-profit and for-profit organizations in more than 41,000 locations – representing nearly two million investors throughout the country.

In October, Ms. Taylor will travel to Washington, D.C., for two days of activities planned to honor and bring well-deserved recognition to the elementary and middle level educators chosen by the states, the District of Columbia, plus private and overseas schools.

“Criteria for the selection of the principals, set by NAESP and the U.S. Department of Education, require that the honorees are active principals of schools where programs are designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students and where there are firmly established community ties with parents and local business organizations,” said PA Principals Association President Dr. Rudiak.

Over the last six years, Ms. Taylor has transformed Grandview Elementary School, where low achievement was the norm, into a positive and successful learning community. She focused on creating a safe and respectful school environment. One of her most recent accomplishments was in changing the two K-5 elementary schools into a K-2 school and a 3-5 school. 

Ms. Taylor was nominated for the Baltimore County Teacher of the Year in 1990. In 1997, she was the Performance Learning System’s (PLS) National Top Evaluation Scorer and was awarded the Outstanding Instructor Award by the PLS in 1999.

PA Principals Association serves as Pennsylvania’s professional educational association for principals, assistant principals and other educational leaders, and now represents approximately 3,900 elementary, middle level and secondary level principals throughout the state. PA Principals Association maintains close ties with the metropolitan Washington-based National Association of Elementary School Principals and its almost 30,000 members nationwide.