Hampton Middle School Principal Eric Stennett is being recognized as a leader among his peers and recently was named the 2013 Middle Level Principal of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals.
“I know this is an individual award but it is a collaboration,” Stennett said. “The community, teachers, parents, students … it is an honor because I get to represent these people who I work with.”
The Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals aims to ensure a quality education for every child by representing and supporting the principals, assistant principals and other educational leaders of schools.
As the state middle level principal of the year, Stennett will go on to compete for the National Middle Level Principal of the Year award and have an opportunity for a $5,000 grant sponsored by the National Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals.
Stennett graduated from Wittenberg University, in Springfield, Ohio, then joined the Army and served in the Gulf War.
When he returned, Stennett got a job teaching, “and the rest is history,” he said.
Stennett joined Hampton as middle school principal in 2008.
“He has been instrumental in building a very positive culture and climate in the building,” said Assistant Middle School Principal Marlynn Lux, who nominated Stennett for the award. “I see people that are happy to come to work and students who are happy to come to learn, and I truly believe that is a result of him coming to work here.”
“A leader to me is someone who can motivate others to succeed, and (Stennett) motivates the teachers and students to succeed and want to get better.”
During his tenure as principal, Stennett has integrated the bullying prevention program into a larger advisory program in which teachers meet with a group of students once per month to talk about issues in the school.
He also has worked with the staff to integrate the curriculum across the content areas so lessons in history class will mirror topics covered in English classes.
Stennett said the principal of the year honor would not be possible without the support of his wife, Colleen, his three daughters, and the community around him.
“You have to build relationships with people,” he said. “Those relationships, with teachers, bosses, superintendent, school board, community and parents, focus on children learning and children feeling safe.
“I feel we have a better handle on problems; we are able to solve them together.”
Stennett will be honored at the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals state conference Oct. 27 to 29 at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in State College.
Bethany Hofstetter is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-772-6364 or bhofstetter@tribweb.com.
