18 Honored for Commitment and Innovation

Eighteen able and accomplished executives from across the region whose organizations instill knowledge, develop character and provide personal satisfaction were honored yesterday by The Washington Post.

The 18, school principals from each Washington area jurisdiction, received The Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leadership Awards from the paper's chairman, Donald E. Graham, in a ceremony at the company's headquarters.

As depicted last night, the principals, 17 from public schools and one representing the area's private schools, shared many of the characteristics often associated with hard-driving, high-achieving chief executives.

In material submitted by those who nominated them, they were praised for positive attitudes, vision, creativity and innovation. They also were cited for compassion for their teachers, students and staff members.

Some were lauded for their turnaround efforts, taking schools with low morale or lagging test scores and transforming them into places where parents were eager to send their children. For example, Thomas Saunders of Elkridge Landing Middle School in Howard County was praised for taking a school with poor test scores and helping it become one of Howard's most improved.

The principals are chosen on the basis of recommendations from parents, students and colleagues. Many of last night's winners, Graham said, were hailed by custodians at their schools.

It was said that Saunders treated the custodial staff "like gold."

Winners practiced a hands-on, participatory form of leadership. James Stemple of Mountain View High School in Stafford County attended every school event "humanly possible," a recommendation said.

Many went to extremes to support worthy causes: Carol L. Leveillee of Mary H. Matula Elementary School in Charles County jumped into the Potomac River in winter to benefit Special Olympics Maryland.

What all were trying to do, said Diana Strohecker of Millersville Elementary in Anne Arundel County, who spoke for all in thanking Graham, was to make tomorrow "brighter, happier, ever buoyant and more peaceful."

Other winners and their schools and systems:

Gladys Camp, Thomson Elementary, Washington; Craig Carscallen, Southeastern Alternative, Fauquier County; K. Marguerite Conley, Annunciation, Washington (private schools); Margaret A. Huckaby, Heritage High, Loudoun County; Lucretia M. Jackson, Maury Elementary, Alexandria; Susan B. Johnson, Calvert High, Calvert County; John Lensch, R.C. Haydon Elementary, Manassas; Steven Lockard, Tuscarora Elementary, Frederick County; Nelson McLeod, Newport Mill Middle, Montgomery County; Rhonda Gray Pitts, Bladensburg Elementary, Prince George's County; Dale S. Rumberger, South County Secondary, Fairfax County; Kimberly Summers, Dynard Elementary, St. Mary's County; Linda Trexler, Neabsco Elementary, Prince William County; and Joanne Uyeda, Abingdon Elementary, Arlington County.