Canfield native earns principal award

Staff report

Columbus

A 1981 Canfield High School graduate is Ohio’s National Distinguished Principal for 2013.

Cheryl Montag, whose parents, Loran and Joyce Brooks, still live in Canfield, is the principal of J.F. Burns Elementary School in the Kings Local School District in Maineville, Ohio.

The 2013 celebration marks the 30th year the National Association of Elementary School Principals has presented the award.

“Montag was nominated and selected by her fellow principals through a statewide search process conducted by the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators,” said Julie Davis, OAESA executive director.

Montag has been principal at J.F. Burns since 1997 and previously served at the school’s assistant principal and as a first- and second-grade teacher.

“At the helm of every successful school is a successful principal,” said Gail Connelly, NAESP executive director. “Our National Distinguished Principals program provides us with an opportunity to recognize the outstanding leadership of these principals and their commitment to creating successful learning communities. Because of them, students thrive academically, teachers grow professionally and communities are strengthened.”

In October, Montag will travel to Washington, D.C., for two days of activities planned to honor and bring well-deserved recognition to the elementary and middle-level educators chosen by the states, the District of Columbia and private and overseas schools.

Criteria for selection of the principals require that the honorees are active principals of schools where programs are designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students and where there are firmly established community ties with parents and local business organizations.