(Harrisburg, PA)—Dr. Barbara Rudiak, a principal at Phillips Elementary School, Pittsburgh, Pa., has been selected to participate in the Principals’ Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., July 15-17, 2001. Dr. Rudiak has been selected based on her reputation as an outstanding principal.

The U.S. Department of Education, with assistance from the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the National Middle School Association, is sponsoring the summit. It will bring together 100 elementary, middle and secondary school principals from across the nation. Together, principals across the nation will extend the discussion of principal as instructional leader that began at the first summit, held last summer.

The discussion will also be extended to a specific area – the use of assessment data to drive decision-making and increase student achievement in our schools. The format of the meeting will include presentations and both large and small group discussions.

Dr. Rudiak has been a principal in the Pittsburgh Public Schools for nine years. Prior to that, she taught 7th grade reading, math and English for 14 years in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Additionally, she was a supervisor for the school improvement program for the Pittsburgh Public Schools and an assistant principal for the Martin Luther Elementary School in Pittsburgh.

Dr. Rudiak is a member of the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary School Principals where she serves on the Executive Board as the West IV Regional Representative. She is also the recording secretary for the Pittsburgh Administrators’ Association.

In addition, Dr. Rudiak is on the board of directors for several non-profit organizations, including Brashear Association, Pittsburgh Voyager and Pittsburgh Council on Public Education.

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.