NASSP announced that Andrew Farley, the principal of Brookfield East High School, in Brookfield, WI, is the 2024 NASSP National Principal of the Year.
“Andy works tirelessly to engage students in their learning and, more broadly, in their school community,” said Elmbrook Schools Superintendent Mark Hansen. “Mr. Farley is a proud East graduate himself, and his story is a testament to both our Elmbrook Schools and public education. He communicates high expectations of students and staff in a personal and supportive way that consistently yields tremendous results.”
“Principal Farley’s vision for a school culture deeply rooted in the whole-student experience is both inspiring and revolutionary,” said NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe. “It’s not just the academic excellence that sets Andy apart; his dedication to destigmatizing mental health support through initiatives like the Hope Squad has literally saved lives. His work is a testament to the profound impact a principal can have when they lead with heart and purpose.”
During Farley’s decade as principal, Brookfield East has been named Wisconsin’s top public high school for four consecutive years (niche.com), and the school was recently recognized as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School for Exemplary Work in Closing Achievement Gaps—one of only three high schools in the country to be recognized in that category. Farley has led a school culture committed to the school’s mission of academic and human excellence. Brookfield East’s Hope Squad, the first in Wisconsin, has developed student leaders to serve as ambassadors for wellness throughout the school, community and region. Farley has ensured all students have access to rigorous, capstone educational experiences with a remarkable 99% of the Class of 2023 taking at least one college-credit bearing course prior to graduation. Through a commitment to literacy instruction, students have excelled on standardized assessments. In 2023, the senior class earned an ACT composite score of 23.5, including a 24.1 in reading. Additionally, 572 Brookfield East students (42%) took 1,235 Advanced Placement exams, earning a 3 or better on 80% of the exams taken.
The National Principal of the Year announcement came during NASSP’s Illuminate celebration last week, which brought together current and former State Principals of the Year to build their advocacy skills and strengthen education in their schools and beyond.
For the NASSP Principal of the Year program, each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools and the Department of Defense Education Activity select one middle level or high school principal to represent their state or department, from whom three finalists are chosen, with one chosen as the National Principal of the Year. The award recognizes outstanding middle level and high school principals who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students as well as demonstrating exemplary contributions to the profession.