Governor Sonny Perdue and State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox congratulated 98 school principals from all over the state yesterday at a reception at the Governor’s Mansion honoring Georgia’s High Performance Principals.

Six principals from Fayette County School Systems were invited as honored guests, including Wenonah Bell, Braelinn Elementary School; Karen Bullock, Kedron Elementary School; Tracie Fleming, McIntosh High School; Len Patton, Rising Starr Middle School; Sam Sweat, Starrs Mill High School; and Sandra Watson, Peeples Elementary School.

“Strong leadership is a critical component of our success to reduce drop out rates and increase the educational achievement of students in Georgia,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “We’re here tonight to honor and thank the high performance principals who have proven themselves as leaders and change agents in Georgia schools.”

“As a teacher for 15 years, I know the impact a great leader can have on a school,” said State School Superintendent Kathy Cox. “These principals are setting high expectations for all of their students and teachers, and they are getting great results.”

Under the High Performance Principals legislation which was passed and signed into law by Governor Perdue in 2006, these principals, as well as high performing principals from outside the state, are eligible to receive salary supplements if they agree to transfer to middle and high schools classified as Needs Improvement schools.

High Performance Principals will receive a $15,000 supplement if they are hired as a principal in a Needs Improvement school. The supplement may continue for two additional years.

The High Performance Principals were chosen because students in their schools displayed higher than expected scores on state curriculum tests. To qualify, the principals had to have been in those high scoring schools since the 2002-2003 school year.

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