Staples Admin Named One of Three CT Assistant High School Principals of the Year

Karyn Morgan, an administrator at Staples High School, is one of three assistant principals around the state named the High School Assistant Principals of the Year by the Connecticut Association of Schools.

Excerpts from an announcement from the association:

Karyn Morgan, assistant principal of Staples High School in Westport, has been named the 2015 CAS High School Assistant Principal of the Year. Nominated for the award by fellow Staples Assistant Principal Rich Franzis, Morgan is known for her unsparing personal and professional investment in her school and her single-minded drive to ensure success for every child in her care.

According to Staples parent Janine Bassin, “Karyn has a deep and unwavering dedication to facilitate the best possible high school experience and outcome for each and every one of her students.” “I am overwhelmed and completely humbled by this award,” says Morgan. “I share this honor with the entire Westport community; a community of individuals who believe in the ideals of education. This honor could not have happened without their support and I will be forever grateful.”

All who work with Morgan agree that the hallmark of her leadership is her ability to establish deep personal connections with her students.

An industrious leader whose every action is driven by her to desire to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of her students, Morgan is highly visible and wholly immersed in all aspects of school life. A ubiquitous presence on the Staples campus, she uses every available opportunity to interact and build relationships with kids.

Jane Levy, an 11th grade student at Staples, says “Mrs. Morgan is in the halls, the cafeteria, welcoming students in the morning and waving them farewell at the end of the day. Her mission is to really know her students, the pulse of the school, and how to best serve each student individually and the school as a whole.”

Adds Bassin, “Karyn possesses an unusual commitment not only to getting to know her students, but to helping them build upon their interests and strengths.

By encouraging kids to find their own unique places to shine, she shows students that she truly believes in them and their success.” A former special education teacher, Morgan has focused much of her energy and attention on assisting struggling students at Staples.

She created the Student Study Team (SST) - which includes teachers, psychologists, administrators and social workers - to ensure that every student has the resources and supports needed to reach a high standard of performance.

The team members meet weekly after the contracted school day to discuss students who have been referred to them by teachers, support staff, administrators or even parents. According to Staples Principal John Dodig, the school’s near 100-percent graduation rate is largely tied to the work of the SST.

A gifted instructional leader, Morgan is respected for her ability to create a culture of learning that is innovative and supportive and that allows all staff members to fully develop and explore their individual talents. She fosters an open and nurturing professional atmosphere where teachers are encouraged to take risks and to think creatively, as long as their focus remains on the academic enrichment of their students.

David Roth, a theater teacher at Staples, says, “Karyn is always very supportive and encouraging when it comes to letting courses evolve to meet the academic needs of the students. She values my curiosity and desire to try new things in my class.”

Morgan’s tireless professional support for her staff — from goal setting to assessment expertise to knowledge of current research — has had a direct and positive impact on student achievement at Staples. Morgan has been selected by CAS to represent Connecticut in the National Assistant Principal of the Year Program sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Morgan, along with assistant principals from each of the other fifty states, as well as the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity associations, will compete for the national honor. The State Assistant Principal of the Year Program In this new era of shared leadership, the assistant principal’s role has become multi-dimensional.

No longer does the assistant principal only deal with student discipline and attendance. Today’s assistant principal is often responsible for curriculum and instruction, staff evaluation, community partnerships, public relations, technology, student activities, and many other crucial areas of operation.

The Assistant Principal of the Year Program, sponsored annually by the Connecticut Association of Schools, was established in 1990 to bring recognition to the assistant principalship and to spotlight the critical role that assistant principals play in the education of our youth.

The program recognizes outstanding school assistant principals who have succeeded in providing high quality learning opportunities for students. These administrators have demonstrated excellent leadership, commitment to staff and students, service to their communities, and contributions to the overall profession of educational leadership.

Each year nominations are solicited for an Elementary, Middle Level, and High School Assistant Principal of the Year. The winners are chosen by a selection committee consisting of active and retired principals and assistant principals. State assistant principals of the year must demonstrate success in the areas of collaborative leadership; personal excellence; curriculum, instruction, and assessment; and personalization.

All applicants must have been in an assistant principalship for two (2) years or longer

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Each year, applications are accepted for the Elementary, Middle, and High School Assistant Principal of the Year awards. The winners are chosen by the CAS Awards and Recognition Committee, a selection committee consisting of active and retired principals and assistant principals.

Sherrod McNeill

Sherrod McNeill, assistant principal of John G. Prendergast School in Ansonia, has been selected as the 2015 CAS Elementary School Assistant Principal of the Year. Nominated for the award by Prendergast Principal Joe Apicella, McNeill was chosen by the selection committee for his unwavering focus on student learning, his deep commitment to parent and community engagement, and his insistent belief in the ability of all students to achieve at high levels [...]

Dr. Krista Bauchman

Dr. Krista Bauchman, assistant principal of Irving A. Robbins Middle School (IAR) in Farmington, has been named the 2015 CAS Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year. Though an assistant principal at IAR for only two-and-a-half years, Dr. Bauchman’s efforts and influence have dramatically shaped the culture and climate of the school and community. [...]