Principals Honored at 2013 Superintendent's Banquet

Published August 2, 2013

Principals from across Williamson County Schools were honored for their success on August 1 during the Third Annual Superintendent’s Banquet.

The event at The Factory in Franklin was a time for celebration as schools were honored for earning the district the distinction of the highest achieving district in the State of Tennessee for yet another year.

Three schools earned the Superintendent’s Superior Award of Excellence in Academic Achievement including Walnut Grove Elementary and Principal Dr. Kate Donnelly; Woodland Middle School and Principal Priscilla Fizer; and Ravenwood High School and Dr. Pam Vaden, for the second year in a row.

Three schools earned the Superintendent’s Superior Award of Excellence in Academic Growth including Clovercroft Elementary, also the winner in elementary achievement last year, and Principal Dr. Laura LaChance; Brentwood Middle, also the winner of middle school achievement last year, and Principal Bill Harlin; and Page High School and Dr. Andrea Anthony, for the second year in a row. The honorees will receive a $250 check courtesy of NCS Pearson-SchoolNet.

A number of schools were recognized for achievements and gains in specific areas. Elementary schools honored include Fairview for Most Reading Gain, Most Science Gain and Most Improved on TCAP Composite; Trinity for Most Math Gain; Hillsboro for Most Social Studies Gain; Clovercroft for Highest Attendance Rate for Students; and Westwood for Highest Attendance Rate for Teachers.

Middle schools recognized include Page for Most Reading Gain and Most Social Studies Gain; Hillsboro for Most Math Gain, Most Science Gain and Most Improved on TCAP Composite; Brentwood for Highest Attendance Rate for Students; and Grassland for Highest Attendance Rate for Teachers.

High schools celebrated include Brentwood for Highest Participation in Advanced Placement and Highest Attendance Rate for Teachers; Ravenwood for Highest Pass Rate in Advanced Placement, Most National Merit Scholars and Highest Graduation Rate; Summit for Highest Attendance Rate for Students; Franklin for Most State and National Recognitions in the Arts; and Brentwood and Ravenwood for Most State Championships in Athletics.

Three schools were honored for closing the gap in the area of special education. The schools received a set of 24 computers for the school. Recipients include Hillsboro, elementary; Sunset, middle; and Page, high.

The WCS Ambassador Class of 2013 presented two sets of six computers to complete a set of Computers on Wheels, COWs to two schools. The donation is part of a partnership created by Ambassadors Brad Dunn and Haden McWhorter called FEED the COWS which has an ultimate goal of providing the six computer completer set to each elementary school. The two sets were given to Fairview and Bethesda elementary schools at the banquet with one set provided by the Ambassador group and the other set given by Williamson Medical Center and Ambassador Steve Dycus. Ambassadors attending include Patti Carroll, Dave Crouch, Dunn, Dan Hayes, Debbie Henry, Ralph Hildabrand, Trent Klingensmith, Susan Leathers, John Maher, McWhorter, Melinda Miller, Gail Powell and Freddie Scott II.

The administrators were treated to a meal prepared by the district's Food Service Department with support provided by Summit High School's culinary arts students. In addition, the Clearview Jazz Orchestra and guest vocalist Deb Enright entertained the crowd.

Sponsors of the event include Balfour/Josh Houston & Associates; Baron Construction, LLC; Coca-Cola Bottling Company; Cornerstone Financial Credit Union; Delek US Holdings/Mapco; Earl Swensson Associates Inc.; Five Star Food Service; Goodwyn|Mills|Caywood Architecture and Engineering; Herff-Jones; Huddleston-Steele Engineering, Inc.; Initial Point Land Surveying, Inc.; Johnson + Bailey Architects, P.C.; Lifetouch National School Studios; NCS Pearson-School Net; and OI Inc.

Peter Vaque and Spring Tree Media Group provided lighting design and sound working with the district's Technology Director Tim McNeese.