In a press release on Tuesday, August 4, the Tennessee Department of Education announced the finalists for the 2020-21 Tennessee Principal of the Year and Supervisor of the Year awards. Lakeland Elementary School’s own Mrs. Joretha Lockhart was nominated for Principal of the Year, along with eight others representing the West, Middle and East regions of the state of Tennessee.
Commissioner Penny Schwinn said, “All across the state, our exceptional school and district leaders are working tirelessly to ensure that students are safe, fed and continue to have access to high-quality learning opportunities—all while leading their communities through a totally new era of education. Strong leadership is vital to the success of our students and educators, and I am grateful to these incredible leaders who are doing so much to serve students.”
Each year an outstanding public school principal earns distinction as the Tennessee Department of Education Principal of the Year. This honor is earned by demonstrating superior abilities in:
- managing and motivating students and faculties;
- evoking high standards;
- demonstrating a commitment to excellence;
- implementing innovative programs; and
- having a track record of exceptional gains in student learning.
To be eligible, a nominee must:
- have a minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in public schools.;
- have a minimum of three (3) years of experience as a principal; and
- at all levels of recognition, must be employed as a principal in a Tennessee public school system.
The nominees will now proceed to an interview in the coming weeks, meeting with a panel of interviewers made up of department staff and other education leaders. Winners for each Grand Division and the Tennessee Principal and Supervisor of the Year will be selected from this group and announced this fall.
Superintendent Ted Horrell said it best, “It’s impossible to describe what Joretha Lockhart has meant to the success of Lakeland School System. She was at Lakeland Elementary before the beginning of LSS and continues to set the standard for what the combination of positive culture and academic excellence looks like in a school. She is entirely deserving of this great honor, and we couldn’t be more excited for her.”
