(Harrisburg, PA)—Thomas M. Shivetts, executive director of the Pennsylvania Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals (PA Principals Association), and president of the Pennsylvania Educational Leadership Foundation, Summerdale, Pa., has been selected to participate in the Principals’ Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., July 15-17, 2001. Mr. Shivetts is one of only eight statewide leaders selected by United States Secretary of Education, Rod Paige.

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 100 elementary, middle and secondary school principals together with professional association leaders from across the nation. Together, participants 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.

Mr. Shivetts has served public education for 30 years. Beginning his career as a social studies teacher, he later served as a supervisor of curriculum and instruction (K-12) and associate superintendent of the Williamsport Area School District. He has been executive director of PA Principals Association since 1996.

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.