ASCD Selects Principal from Newport News, Va., and Assistant Principal from Prince George's County, Md., as the 2010 Outstanding Young Educators
San Antonio, TX (03/06/10)—Brian Nichols, principal of Hidenwood Elementary School in Newport News, Va., and Michael Powell, assistant principal at Patuxent Elementary School in Prince George's County Public Schools, Md., are the winners of ASCD's 2010 Outstanding Young Educator Award (OYEA). ASCD honored Nichols and Powell today at its Annual Conference and Exhibit Show in San Antonio, Tex.
"Brian and Michael have very different leadership styles and strengths, but they share a common goal," said ASCD Executive Director Gene R. Carter at the awards ceremony. "They both strive to not only provide their students with top-notch academic programs, but also prepare them to become caring, successful, active citizens who contribute to their communities."
Nichols has a history of turning around low-performing schools through a mix of strategic use of data, collaborative leadership, and innovative education practices. "Hidenwood has progressed from a school on a federal watch list to a school that everyone wants to watch because it's exceeded AYP benchmarks for two consecutive years and embraced 21st century learning technologies," says Nichols.
Nichols has used technology to improve instruction and effectively communicate with his school's various stakeholders. He and his staff have created a virtual data wall that teachers can access at all times to track individual student progress across an array of indicators, from formative and summative benchmark assessment results to student participation in afterschool activities and leadership groups. The wall drives regular data-focused and collaborative conversations, during which teams develop individualized instruction and support plans for students who aren't meeting benchmarks. Meanwhile, the school's Technology Academy merges project-based learning with technology integration to help students become problem solvers and global citizens. Nichols also maintains a Hidenwood Twitter feed and produces video updates to keep parents and community members engaged and informed.
Nichols's approach as a professional development leader at his school models what he expects of his teachers. His staff members never receive the exact same professional development. Instead, they participate in differentiated professional development opportunities that take into account their current knowledge and skill levels and are tailored to meet student needs. Nichols also empowers his educators to become professional development leaders themselves by conducting observations and walkthroughs of each other’s classrooms and sharing their strengths.
Meanwhile, Powell’s trademark is implementing project-based learning opportunities that help to both increase student achievement and build character. When faced with the challenge of improving his school's math and science scores, for example, he created No Child Left Inside—a program designed to engage students and the broader community in transforming Patuxent into a green school. Through hands-on learning that included testing the pH level of the local stream, creating habitats for local animal species, and maintaining a history trail, students bolstered their science and math skills while contributing to a cleaner and greener community.
Powell describes himself as "both a tireless advocate for children and a community organizer," and his work at Patuxent Elementary School, particularly his efforts related to increasing parent involvement, demonstrates the actions Powell puts behind those words. Powell involves parents in the Young People Improvement Conference, which he created to help students in grades 3 through 6 develop critical life skills. Meanwhile, Powell’s Men in Action with a Purpose program teaches fathers how to support their children's learning. Powell has trained the fathers in implementing reading strategies, using student portfolios at home to support academic success, and understanding differentiated instruction and data-based instruction.
Powell is committed to providing students with opportunities to voice their opinions, develop leadership skills, and plan for their futures. He brings his students and their families on visits to Georgetown and Howard Universities, where they learn about college life and begin at an early age to view postsecondary education as an essential part of their futures.
ASCD, an international educational leadership association, created the OYEA Program in 2002 to recognize creative and committed teachers and administrators under the age of 40 who are making a difference in the lives of children. A panel of diverse education professionals selected Nichols and Powell as the 2010 OYEA winners from a large pool of candidates nominated by educators across the globe. They will each receive a $10,000 cash award and an ASCD Institutional Membership for their schools.
ASCD's OYEA Program provides winners and a cadre of honorees with opportunities for leadership skill building, professional development, and networking and sharing of best practices with one another and the ASCD community. GlobalScholar, an ASCD Premier Sponsor, is a supporter of the OYEA program.
The 2010 OYEA honorees are John C. Canter, English and journalism instructor, Pope High School, Cobb County School District, Marietta, Ga.; Kurtis Hewson, principal, West Meadow Elementary School, Livingstone Range School Division No. 68, Claresholm, Alberta, Canada; and Yim Tam, history and social studies teacher, Franklin High School, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles, Calif.
Nominations are currently being accepted for next year's award. To nominate someone or learn more about the OYEA Program, visit www.ascd.org/oyea. Contact ASCD to schedule an interview with or obtain a photograph of the OYEA winner.
Contact Information:
- Barbara Michelman, communications director, 1-703-575-5764 or by e-mail
- Melissa McCabe, communications specialist, 1-703-575-5637 or by e-mail