10 Jun 2002
Rachel George Wins in MetLife Principal Competition for DISD
DALLAS–Rachel George, principal at Julia C. Frazier Elementary, was named MetLife Principal of the Year 2002-03 for the Dallas Independent School District at a breakfast reception held June 10.
General Superintendent Mike Moses, who was on hand to congratulate George, said the principal is one of the district's most outstanding campus leaders.
"Schools with outstanding campus leadership inspire teachers to motivate students to learn and achieve academic excellence," he said. "Ms. George continues to demonstrate the leadership skills that produce exceptional and successful learners."
Under George's leadership, Frazier Elementary has received recognition and high ratings from the Texas Education Agency. The state agency named Frazier a Distinguished School for its academic success last year. The school received TEA's highest rating, exemplary, for 2000-01, and is preliminarily expected to receive it again for 2001-02.
In addition, Texas Business and Education Coalition and Just for the Kids named Frazier to the 2001 Honor Roll of best performing schools in Texas. The award recognizes schools with sustained academic excellence over a three-year period. The elementary school was selected as a National Demonstration School Site by the National Alliance of Black Educators.
Sponsored by MetLife, the Principal of the Year Competition was established to recognize and reward outstanding principals in DISD. Principals are nominated for the award by area superintendents, PTA presidents, leaders of site-based decision-making committees, other principals and leaders of community organizations. The nomination criteria took into consideration leadership, management, community relations and communications skills.
A total of 48 principals were nominated for the recognition this school year. Of those, one principal was selected from each of the district's nine areas. Outstanding area principals are:
Area 1: Mary Bolden, Pleasant Grove Elementary School
Area 2: Rachel George, Julia Frazier Elementary School
Area 3: Santos Martinez, William Lipscomb Elementary School
Area 4: Verna Mitchell, Thomas Tolbert Elementary School
Area 5: Dwain Govan, Sarah Zumwalt Middle School
Area 6: Ricardo Atkinson,W.E. Greiner Middle School
Area 7: Veronica Pasternak, Harry C. Withers Elementary School
Area 8: Larry Allen, Alex Sanger Elementary School
Area 9: Richard White, School of Science and Engineering at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center
The outstanding area principals received plaques and gift bags. MetLife Resources awarded George a plaque and two round-trip airline tickets to any United States destination.