Alumna receives Wisconsin school award
Teacher named 2009 Elementary School Principalof the year by the state
Tara Cegla
Issue date: 4/20/09 Section: Campus News
A UW-Eau Claire alumna has been named the 2009 Elementary School Principal of the Year by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators.
"I love our students and our families," said recipient of the award Bobbie Schmidt. "I was just very deeply honored for being recognized for the work I do every day."
Schmidt has been a teacher for 25 years, 13 of which were in the Menasha school district teaching first and second grades. Schmidt then taught third, fourth and sixth grades for 12 years in the Appleton area before becoming assistant principal at Madison middle school in Appleton for one year.
Schmidt then started her position as principal at Richmond elementary school, where she has held the position for the last seven years.
The criteria used to select the principal of the year are the standards defined by the National Associate of Elementary school principals, Schmidt said.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's Web site, criteria for being chosen to represent Wisconsin principals include a commitment to excellence, expectations of faculty, outstanding efforts to the school and being an involved member of the community.
Schmidt also said nominations are peer-based and once someone is nominated, there's an application process where parents, community members and other principals write letters of recommendation. Schmidt then had to complete a series of essay questions that were judged by different teaching associations around the state.
Schmidt said one thing that makes Richmond elementary school stand out is the school's high standardized test scores. When Schmidt first began at Richmond, students' math scores were fairly low so she implemented a math-tutoring program with community members, which often involved business partnerships.
In terms of what Schmidt is proud of during her career as a principal, she is impressed with her ability to implement a healthy lifestyle program at Richmond.
"I love our students and our families," said recipient of the award Bobbie Schmidt. "I was just very deeply honored for being recognized for the work I do every day."
Schmidt has been a teacher for 25 years, 13 of which were in the Menasha school district teaching first and second grades. Schmidt then taught third, fourth and sixth grades for 12 years in the Appleton area before becoming assistant principal at Madison middle school in Appleton for one year.
Schmidt then started her position as principal at Richmond elementary school, where she has held the position for the last seven years.
The criteria used to select the principal of the year are the standards defined by the National Associate of Elementary school principals, Schmidt said.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's Web site, criteria for being chosen to represent Wisconsin principals include a commitment to excellence, expectations of faculty, outstanding efforts to the school and being an involved member of the community.
Schmidt also said nominations are peer-based and once someone is nominated, there's an application process where parents, community members and other principals write letters of recommendation. Schmidt then had to complete a series of essay questions that were judged by different teaching associations around the state.
Schmidt said one thing that makes Richmond elementary school stand out is the school's high standardized test scores. When Schmidt first began at Richmond, students' math scores were fairly low so she implemented a math-tutoring program with community members, which often involved business partnerships.
In terms of what Schmidt is proud of during her career as a principal, she is impressed with her ability to implement a healthy lifestyle program at Richmond.
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