In honor of National Principals Month, we highlight four dedicated school leaders whose names you may remember from previous years. Where are they now? What is the difference they have made—and continue to make—in their communities? What challenges do they face? And what are they most proud of since receiving national recognition?

A Surreal Experience

Principal Richard Gordon IV, second from right, celebrates the opening of Robeson’s renovated cafeteria in November 2022 with business and community leaders who donated to upgrade the space.

Richard Gordon IV | Principal | 2021 National Principal of the Year

Having grown up in several high-poverty communities throughout the Philadelphia area, it still feels surreal to me that I am an NASSP National Principal of the Year. When I think about this experience and how it continues to benefit me more than two years after I was honored, I am amazed. I have become one of those influential people that I used to read about when I first started my teaching career more than 28 years ago.

Even though this is a national award, I’m most grateful for the local reaction to it—the pride in our whole school community. Today, I find myself sitting in rooms with individuals who are some of the great influencers here in Philadelphia, individuals who are trying to make some transformative change in a system with well-​documented challenges. We had a former governor, Tom Wolf, who visited our school and called it a model for what the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is trying to accomplish. I’ve been humbled by the opportunity to represent my community on a number of levels.

I’m the very first school leader from Philadelphia to be named state principal of the year. So that alone is amazing. And then for a Philadelphian to be named national principal of the year is even more unbelievable.

Since June 2013, I’ve been the principal of Paul Robeson High School for Human Services. The national recognition has given me the opportunity to talk to school leaders around the country and share some of my insights into the principalship, and the importance of providing high-quality education to combat the devastating impact of generational poverty. But at the same time, I’m happy where I am, and I’m still enjoying the job. My team at Robeson is meeting with a lot of success because I have been blessed with assembling the most loving, dedicated staff members with whom I’ve ever had the pleasure to work.

I will say that COVID-19 brought some new challenges to schools that continue to have a big impact on students. We were lucky during the pandemic—because of the amazing teachers, support staff, community partners, parents, and students—to continue to show academic progress, unlike a lot of schools. But we also saw a significant increase in the amount of mental health supports that our students needed—and continue to need today. There’s a pervasive feeling of anxiety that has really taken over a huge portion of our school population. And so, we understand that we must work daily to break through that barrier before we can get to the idea of how to properly educate our children.

Although I was recognized as a National Principal of the Year, there is no way that such an honor happens without the teachers and staff who work as hard as they can to offer the most loving, supportive, and safest learning spaces Philadelphia has to offer. Our teachers and staff members not only buy into the collective mission and vision of what we’re trying to accomplish, but they are truly leading, and I pray I may continue to be the role model that has inspired them to believe in the work.

I also appreciate how NASSP has created a community where you can reach out to your colleagues and keep up with what’s happening around the country. That community lets us know that we’re not in this fight by ourselves, and that others have much to offer that can benefit our leadership. I love having the opportunity to connect with other educators because the experience of being a school leader cuts across communities, backgrounds, demographics, and experiences.

Richard Gordon IV is the principal of Paul Robeson High School for Human Services in Philadelphia, PA, and NASSP’s 2021 National Principal of the Year.

From Principal to School Leader Coach

Kerensa Wing | Leader Coach | 2020 National Principal of the Year

Kerensa Wing, right, coaches Logan Malm, the principal of the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology.

A few years ago, when I applied to be the Principal of the Year in Georgia, it was because the executive director of the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals had suggested it for probably the fifth time. Finally, I said, “OK, I’ll fill out the application.” When I was honored by the association and then named National Principal of the Year, the award highlighted the great work at my school, Collins Hill High School in Suwanee. It also broadened my horizons. I had always been involved at the state level and had attended some national conferences, but this recognition ultimately helped me see the big picture and advocate for public education in a bigger way.

Being honored at a national level opened some doors I had not necessarily considered. At the time, I had 32 years of experience in education, including 12 as a principal, and I was ready to try something different. Going through the Principal of the Year process really opened my eyes to the support that principals need. I was fortunate to work in a very large district that provided such support, but I realized that support didn’t happen everywhere. The realization led me to take a job last school year as a principal coach. We call them leader coaches in our district, and I coach some assistant principals, too.

When I was named National Principal of the Year, I was floored. I was humbled by the recognition and honored to accept it on behalf of my school, my staff, and my students, all of whom work very hard. I was glad to be able to bring some positive recognition to their efforts.

It was also a challenging time. I was named Principal of the Year in fall 2019. I took one trip to Washington, D.C., for a conference and one trip to California with NASSP in February, and then my school shut down in March due to the pandemic. I ended up doing a lot of virtual traveling.

Today, we’re still working through the long-term effects of COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, kids and families were isolated and had various degrees of engagement with their education. Schools and families are still trying to support students in reconnecting and rebuilding relationships.

One of the strategies I use in my current work with school leaders is to help them grow their professional learning networks. I support new leaders for one to two years when they are first in the seat, but they are going to need a support network after I am out of the picture. Although they can always call me, I reinforce that need for a long-term network, as the principalship can be lonely if you are isolated. They often realize that about halfway through the first year when they’re like, “Geez, there’s nobody I can talk to about the job.”

I believe NASSP has done a good job of helping create spaces where principals can make those connections, like with the leadership networks. I co-​facilitate the Principal of the Year Alumni Network, where we create a safe space to collaborate on hot topics with other educators, and it has been really neat to reconnect with people I know from my cohort of State Principals of the Year. I’ve also enjoyed getting to know the new cohorts and the new National Principals of the Year. It helps me stay on top of what’s happening in schools, and it’s just good to hear what other people are doing across the country.

Kerensa Wing is a leader coach for Gwinnett County Public Schools in Suwanee, GA, and the former principal of Collins Hill High School. She is NASSP’s 2020 National Principal of the Year.

My Commitment to Celebrating Public Education

Lucas Clamp attends a surprise celebration in his honor at River Bluff High School. From left: Beth Phibbs, South Carolina Association of School Administrators Executive Director; Gov. Henry McMaster of South Carolina; Principal Clamp; Hon. Molly Spearman, former South Carolina State Superintendent of Education; and Akil Ross, the 2018 National Principal of the Year.

Lucas Clamp | Secondary Schools Director | 2019 National Principal of the Year

I’ll always cherish the day I was selected as National Principal of the Year. For one thing, it was incredible to think about the logistics that went into keeping the award a secret and putting together the ceremony. When I finally walked into the gym and all the students were waiting for me, it was a complete surprise.

My family was there. The governor of South Carolina was there. The previous National Principal of the Year was there. The state superintendent of education was there. I was incredibly humbled, and there was no better place to celebrate that honor than among my students and my staff, because they truly are the ones who paved the way for me to receive this recognition. I still enjoy looking at the many photos from that day.

As a result of being honored, I began to celebrate the profession even more deeply because I feel like we don’t do enough in public education to celebrate the power of leadership. The award enabled me to present at national conferences and engage with other school leaders. These experiences reminded me that such recognition creates power and provides context for celebrating each other.

I also began to think bigger about the power of educational leadership. I didn’t necessarily think about new jobs, but our superintendent was looking for someone with a proven leadership record who could support principals. The award affirmed that my skills were at a place where I could provide that service for the school district. That’s how I ended up in my current position, as secondary schools director in the same district where I worked as a principal, Lexington County School District One in Lexington, SC. I supervise 16 school leaders in all, including those at middle schools, high schools, our technology center, our alternative school, and our college center (an early college program). I miss being around the students every day, but I’m now able to serve more people in this role.

During COVID-19, our students and staff had to learn in different ways and figure out how digital education could supplement in-person education. The other major change I’ve noticed since the pandemic is that our country is really in conflict with itself about who should be teaching and what should be taught. I personally believe we should rely on experts who design standards and rely on business and industry to keep us informed of what types of skills and knowledge students need.

We’re also challenged by a teacher shortage that may be unlike any before. We simply must celebrate and advocate for the field of education so that fourth, fifth, and sixth graders feel called to the profession and pursue pathways into the classroom, just as I did when I was that age.

For school leaders, NASSP is doing important work in providing a national platform for professional development and celebration. For example, the Principal of the Year Alumni Network, of which I’m a member, has provided so much context and an opportunity for collaboration with my colleagues. During our monthly meetings online, we engage in rich conversations about our work.

Public education needs leaders more than ever, and we need the right leaders. If we can celebrate and honor the field, while also providing leadership development and support, we will truly continue to give people hope for public education and the profession and create a way for students and teachers to thrive. That’s what I challenge myself to do every day.

Lucas Clamp, EdD, is the secondary schools director for Lexington County School District One in Lexington, SC, and the former principal of River Bluff High School. He is NASSP’s 2019 National Principal of the Year.

Educating From the Heart

Akil Ross | Superintendent | 2018 National Principal of the Year

Superintendent Akil Ross with students at graduation in May 2023.

When you’re first named National Principal of the Year, well-wishers blow up your cellphone and your inbox, as the kids like to say. The attention is nice and makes you feel good about your work, but one of the most important things the award does is give you an opportunity to share your story. My story centered on social-emotional learning, putting care into relationship-​building, and working from the heart. That’s the story I’ve been sharing since I was honored in 2018. Since then, I’ve worked with other principals, I’ve written a book, Empowering the Heart: Reviving and Renewing Today’s Education, and now, I’m a superintendent.

As Principal of the Year, I became an ambassador to public schools, educators, and leaders across the country. I had the opportunity to travel not only in my home state of South Carolina but across the country and even as far away as Thailand. With this honor, there’s no limit to how far your message can go.

Last school year was my first full year as the official superintendent of Lexington-Richland School District Five, in a suburb of Columbia, SC. But I still feel like a principal at heart, and I walk the halls with our principals when I can. As superintendent, you really get into the business of how schools work, but now I’m responsible for 26 schools and not just one. It’s exciting to share my passion for education and work to develop principals and other school and district leaders. The difference now is that I also must get multimillion-dollar budgets passed and educate the community about the work we do and what happens every day in our schools.

Even though I was honored before COVID-19 hit, the award validated my approach to education, which has always been about the heart. We used to say the focus in schools was bell-to-bell instruction, but now we have to say bell-to-bell connection and instruction. We must connect with children before instruction can take place, and that sometimes requires a new skill set for teachers to learn.

When I talk with teachers, many don’t feel prepared to support students’ mental health. But students can’t learn when they’re fearful. They can’t learn when they’re anxious. They struggle to learn with depression. If you focus solely on academics, students’ elevated states of excitement, or even anger, can get in the way.

My own story reflects some of these challenges students face. When I was named Principal of the Year, I made it a point to share that I flunked third grade. I rebounded because of the connections I made in school. At the time, I needed a teacher to believe in me more than I believed in myself before I could succeed.

As superintendent, I’ve emphasized this notion of the whole-child continuum. Before we talk about academics, let’s talk about students’ security, their physical health, their social health, their mental health. And then let’s look at things like behavioral skills. Do they have coping skills? Can they deal with adversity and learning how to fail? Then we look at where students are struggling and figure out what we can do to help. When we handle all that, students can learn.

I appreciate the role that NASSP plays in making principals feel like they’re part of something bigger. One of the best things in the world is for someone to not only tell you, “You matter,” but to understand and recognize what you’re going through. That’s what NASSP does so well.

Akil Ross, EdD, is the superintendent of Lexington-Richland School District Five in Irmo, SC, and the former principal of Chapin High School. He is NASSP’s 2018 National Principal of the Year.