CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The principal of Laurel Hall School in North Hollywood, Calif., Kathleen Haworth, has been named National Distinguished Principal for 2002 by the National Association of Elementary Schools Principals (NAESP) and the U.S. Department of Education. She will be honored at an awards banquet Oct. 10-11 in Washington, D.C.
Laurel Hall School is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
"Equipping each student with strong academic skills has been the primary goal of each school I have served," said Haworth on her nomination form. "I feel that I have been a positive role model to all the school communities I have served. I take pride in the fact that in each setting, I have been able to clearly assess the needs and understand the uniqueness of each educational setting."
"The award for Haworth marks the third year in a row that an ELCA school principal has received this prestigious award," said Robert Federwitz, director for schools, ELCA Division for Higher Education and Schools (DHES), Chicago. "It is also interesting that all three have been from Southern California, specifically from the Southwest California Synod -- the synod with the most schools."
Haworth has been principal for Laurel Hall School since 1997. From 1980 to1983, she taught music at three schools: St. Jane Francis Catholic School, North Hollywood; St. Francis de Sales Catholic School, Sherman Oaks, Calif., and America Lutheran School, Burbank, Calif. From 1983 to 1993, she was an assistant principal at the Calvary Lutheran School, Arleta, Calif. During that time she served for one year as an executive director for Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Youth Program, Los Angeles.
In 1980 Haworth earned an associates of arts degree in liberal studies from Los Angeles Valley College, Van Nuys, Calif., and in 1998 she obtained her master's degree in administration from California State University Northridge, Northridge Calif.
A grant secured from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Minneapolis, will make it possible for Haworth, her family and some DHES staff members, to attend the awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The National Distinguished Principals Program was established in 1984 as an annual event to honor exemplary elementary and middle school principals who set the pace, character, and quality of the education children receive during their early school years. One principal is chosen annually from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
[*Diana Mavunduse is a communicator with the World Council of
Churches, Geneva, Switzerland. This fall she is serving as a
volunteer with the ELCA News Service.]
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
