Washington Post Honors Linthicum Elementary Principal

The Washington Post recently honored Linthicum Elementary School principal Fran Nussle with the Distinguished Educational Leadership Award.

She is one of 18 principals representing Washington-area schools to receive the award, according to a press release from Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS).

“I am very honored and humbled by this award because I know it has come about through the hard work of the countless people I’ve had the privilege to work with throughout my career,” Nussle said in the release. “In education, like many fields, success is a true team effort. I am proud to have been able to work with dedicated and compassionate people who put children first in everything they do.”

Nussle has worked in the county school system for all but two of her 39 years in education, according to the release. She's been principal at Linthicum Elementary since 2006. She previously served as assistant principal at Meade Heights Elementary beginning in 2003.

Nussle began as a teacher at Meade Heights and also taught at , and Linthicum elementaries before serving as a resource teacher for the talent development program.

The school's leadership team and a student wrote letters supporting her nomination, according to the release.

“She exemplifies her motto of ‘Kindness Matters,’” Linthicum's leadership team wrote in its nomination letter. “This is evident throughout the building and in every interaction she has with students, staff and parents. At LES she models this, as well as the belief that building relationships with students, parents and staff is paramount to having a successful school.”

First-grader Matt Airey submitted a handwritten letter endorsing his principal’s nomination.

“Mrs. Nussle is the best principal and she lets us play in her office,” Matt wrote. “She is awesome because she helps me read. She thinks I’m cool and awesome!”