Howell Chosen Ashe County Principal of the Year

By Allison Canter

Ashe County High School Principal Phil Howell has been chosen to represent Ashe County for the Wachovia

Principal of the Year Award. One of Wachovia's long-standing goals is to be a good corporate citizen in the communities in which it does business and to enthusiastically demonstrate its support of education. According to Wachovia, where education is valued, communities are enriched.

The Principal of the Year Award was introduced in 1984 to recognize outstanding leadership in North Carolina's schools and the role of the principal in establishing an environment conducive to the pursuit and achievement of academic excellence. Wachovia sponsors the award in conjunction with the N.C. Department of Public Instruction and the Chapel Hill-based Center for School Leadership Development.

Howell began working with young people in high school, where he tutored students his senior year. After high school he continued working with young people with various organizations such as the Cooperative Extension. In 1983, Howell went back to school at Appalachian State University and received his Masters Degree in Education.

Howell, who has been at Ashe High School for four years has also taught at Wilkesboro Elementary and taught and coached at Beaver Creek High School. While working on his Masters Degree, he was employed at Mountain View Elementary. His administrative work began at Northwest Ashe High School, where he served as assistant principal. Before coming to Ashe, he served as a principal for six years in Alleghany County.

"I've always wanted to work with young people. I enjoy watching these young people grow up," said Howell. "I base my success on the school's success. For the second year in a row, we received the Bronze award for top high school in the nation. It is about the kids that will walk across the stage in May. Our 960 students are making it happen, along with the staff of the school and the great support from the community. Education has changed so much, you have to take pride, seeing the young people succeed. We have the highest proficienty level in our region."

Principals are judged on many criteria. Each is expected to merit the respect and admiration of students, teachers and other professional coworkers, parents, and members of his or her community. Involvement in the community, as well as in school activities, is also considered. Candidates are expected to provide opportunities for academic achievement to a diverse student population.

The POY awards program recognizes principals at the local, regional and statewide levels. To advance in competition, the nominee must prepare an in-depth written portfolio for review by a selection committee in each educational region. Regional selection committees read and evaluate each candidate's portfolio, and personally interview each to name a regional winner and a finalist. Regional winners and finalists are announced at a luncheon attended by all local winners, their superintendents and guests. These winners are presented with a framed certificate and a $200 cash award. A statewide selection committee reviews the portfolios of the eight regional winners. Each is interviewed, and the selection committee visits each candidate's school campus.

The statewide Wachovia Principal of the Year receives $3,000 for personal or professional use, and his or her school also receives $3,000 for educational equipment or materials. Each of the eight regional winners receives $1,500 for personal use and $1,500 for the school. Since the program's inception, 27 state Wachovia Principals of the Year, 170 regional award recipients and 2,234 Wachovia Principals from across the state have been added to this roll. Wachovia has provided more than $1 million in cash awards to these individuals. The culmination of Wachovia Principal of the Year Program is a luncheon in Raleigh, where the statewide winner is announced. The date is set to coincide with the N.C. State Board of Education meeting. The N.C. State Superintendent of Public Instruction and other board members are invited to attend.

Howell and his wife, Evelyn, reside in Laurel Springs. They have one daughter, Angie, who is a teacher in Wilkes County and one son, Brandon, a Park Ranger at Jordan Lake. Brandon and his wife, reside in Apex.