Montgomery, Alabama – The Alabama Association of Elementary School Administrators (AAESA) is proud to announce that three Alabama principals have been chosen as finalists for Alabama’s NAESP National Distinguished Principal.

The finalists are Dr. Margaret Jones of Edgewood Elementary School in Selma City Schools, Mrs. Karissa Lang of Crestline Elementary School in Hartselle City Schools, and Dr. Alice Turney of Riverchase Elementary School in Hoover City Schools.

A panel of judges will conduct a school visit with each finalist. Interviews with the finalist, teachers, parents, and community members are part of the overall judging process. After all site visits have concluded, the judges will meet to select Alabama’s NAESP National Distinguished Principal. A winner will be announced in early spring 2023.

"These three outstanding principals embody the best of what education has to offer," said Dr. Vic Wilson, Executive Director of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS) and AAESA. "Their dedication to their students and commitment to excellence is a shining example for all of us. We are proud to have them represent Alabama in this prestigious recognition program."

The Alabama National Distinguished Principal program is the state recognition program of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Distinguished Principal program. The Alabama program is sponsored by AAESA and Classworks. 

For more information, please contact Alyssa Godfrey, CLAS Director of Communications, at 334.265.3610 or at alyssa@clasleaders.org

# # #

About the NAESP National Distinguished Principal Award: Each year, NDPs represent Pre-K through grade 8 public schools from across the country as well as principals in U.S. private schools and those from the United States Departments of Defense Office of Educational Activity and the United States Department of State Office of Overseas Schools. Public school elementary and middle-level principals are nominated by peers in their state, and final selections are made by committees appointed by each of NAESP’s state affiliate offices. Honorees from private schools and overseas schools are selected by special committees.

About AAESA and CLAS: The Alabama Association of Elementary School Administrators is a state chapter of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and an affiliate association of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS).  CLAS is an umbrella association that serves twelve different affiliates comprised of Alabama’s public school administrators.  CLAS is dedicated to providing the framework to connect dedicated school administrators and other successful leaders with a network for professional growth and support.  For more information, visit www.clasleaders.org.

About Classworks: Classworks is K-8 digital instruction in math, reading, and language arts proven to help students become critical thinkers and independent learners. Classworks provides individualized instruction for every student based on their assessment results to close learning gaps. Classworks also delivers on-grade level, rigorous lessons for the classroom that helps teachers teach through technology. Classworks results-driven, engaging educational solutions are built upon strong instructional pedagogy and technological innovation to improve teaching and learning.