BHS’s Bartlett selected 2016 State Principal of Year
Dr. John C. Bartlett, Bearden High School principal, credits being named 2016 State Princi-pal of the Year to BHS faculty and staff.
Bartlett, who was chosen for the honor by Tennessee Association of Secondary School Principals, will join fellow state principals of the year from across the country for consideration as 2017 National Principal of the Year in a program conducted by National Association of Secondary School Principals.
“It’s a school award,” Bartlett said. “When I say it’s a school award, it’s how well the staff is doing with the students.
“It’s really based on the work of the school — its staff, parents and community.
“Principals across the state do a great job, but you are never going to find a great principal without a great staff,” he said. “We have a great culture here. The culture is all about students.
“That’s what we try to achieve and what we feel is unique about Bearden High School. We’ve worked really hard for years and continue to work, but it’s the [staff’s achievement].
“A lot of times, principals get the credit when we need to recognize it’s an award earned by many,” Bartlett said.
Before coming to BHS in 2008, he served as Loudon High School principal in Loudon County from 2004 to 2008. He taught U.S. history and coached baseball from 1996 to 2004 at Bledsoe County High School in Pikeville.
“NASSP is proud to highlight the incredible work that these principals are doing in our nation’s schools,” JoAnn Bartoletti, NASSP executive director, said. “State principals of the year show all educators the strides schools and students can make when a principal is committed to raising student achievement through personalization and collaboration.”
NASSP National Principal of the Year program convenes the year’s top principal from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity and U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools to be honored at a three-day institute from Sept. 11 to Sept. 14 in Washington, D.C.
During the event, principals will meet with elected officials to discuss legislation that im-pacts education, participate in professional development training, network with NASSP staff and their peers and be officially recognized for their achievement during an awards program.
From this pool of state winners, three national finalists are named in August and interviewed by a panel of judges.
The 2017 NASSP National Principal of the Year winner will be announced at the winner’s school during National Prin-cipals Month in October.
