Norwalk Educator Named National Middle School Principal Of The Year

NORWALK, CT — Norwalk Public Schools announced Friday that Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy Principal Damon Lewis has been named the 2025–26 National Middle School Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

According to a news release provided by the district, Lewis earned this national honor after being selected as Connecticut's 2025 Middle School Principal of the Year by the Connecticut Association of Schools.

Lewis was one of three finalists considered for national recognition at the middle school level, according to the district. The award was officially presented to Lewis on July 9 during the Illuminate Gala at the UNITED Conference in Seattle, hosted by NASSP and the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

"I am incredibly humbled and honored to be recognized by my peers on the national level," Lewis said in a news release. "It is a testament to the support I have been provided by Norwalk Public Schools in working with our community of learners including staff, students and families."

According to the district, Lewis shared that his goal was never to be seen as the "best principal," but simply to do the "best job for the community I serve."

He also expressed his gratitude to the entire Norwalk community and his team at Ponus Ridge for their ongoing support.

"We are extremely proud of Dr. Lewis for receiving this well-deserved national recognition," Superintendent Alexandra Estrella said in a news release. "When I nominated him for this honor, I had no doubt he would be chosen. His deep commitment to his students, staff and school community is evident in everything he does. We have long recognized his outstanding leadership here in our district, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see that excellence celebrated at both the state and national levels."

Lewis has served as principal of Ponus Ridge since 2015, following four years as the school's assistant principal. A visionary and collaborative leader, he has cultivated a culture of academic excellence and inclusivity, helping to drive significant school-wide improvements.

Under his leadership, chronic absenteeism at Ponus Ridge dropped from 23 percent to just 8.3 percent, a success that has drawn national media attention, according to the district.

Lewis has also championed equity and access, resulting in increased enrollment of Hispanic and Black students in the Gifted & Talented program and a notable rise in female student participation in accelerated math, according to the district.

Beyond Ponus Ridge, Lewis has made lasting contributions to district-wide initiatives, including the redesign of the Gifted & Talented program, middle school model, school counseling services and STEAM programming.

He has served on several leadership groups, including the Superintendent Principal Advisory Council, District Strategic Plan Task Force and Safety Task Force Committee, and currently facilitates the Black Male Administrators Group, according to the district.

Lewis' national recognition affirms not only his remarkable leadership, but also Norwalk Public Schools' commitment to fostering excellence, equity and innovation in education, district officials said.