RESTON, Va. - Trevor Greene, principal of Toppenish High School in Toppenish, Wash., has been named a finalist in the 2013 MetLife/NASSP National Principal of the Year Program for his significant contributions to student achievement.
Located on the Yakima Indian Reservation, Toppenish High School serves a 95% minority student population—and nearly 100% of the students qualify for free and reduced-price lunch. Returning to the reservation where he grew up, Trevor Greene has helped his 717 students reach previously unimaginable levels of success.
“Mr. Greene…sought to first understand the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive developments of his students and…then buil[t] systems and implemented sustainable programs to engage and motivate them to achieve at high levels,” said Eric Diener, principal of neighboring Wapato High School.
In his four years leading Toppenish, Greene has raised the bar on expectations and has created “a school climate that is warm, inviting, safe, and secure,” said John Cerna, superintendent of Toppenish School District.
Greene established high-profile engineering and biomedical programs, implemented an advisory program, expanded opportunities for special education students, and formed invaluable community partnerships. Thanks to his efforts, students now have access to Project Lead The Way's rigorous STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) courses and can earn up to 30 college credits from the University of Washington by the time they graduate from high school. In addition, relationships with local businesses allow greater access to postsecondary opportunities.
The search for the national principal of the year began in early 2012 as each state principals' association selected its state principal of the year. From this pool of state award winners, a panel of judges selected three middle level and three high school finalists. The national middle level and high school winners will be named in September and recognized in Washington, DC, during the Principals Institute for State Principals of the Year, September 19-22, 2012.
Greene and the other five finalists will each receive a $1,500 grant, and the two national award winners—one high school and one middle level—will receive additional grants of $3,500. The grants will be used to improve learning at the school (e.g., a special school project and/or professional development opportunities).
MetLife and NASSP are strongly committed to supporting the visions of exemplary school leaders. For more information about the MetLife/NASSP National Principal of the Year Program, please visit www.nassp.org/POY.
Contacts: Bob Farrace, NASSP, 703-860-7257, farraceb@nassp.org
Margaret Atherlay; Meghan Lantier, MetLife, matherlay@metlife.com; mlantier@metlife.com
About NASSP NASSP is the leading organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and all school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. The association provides research-based professional development and resources, networking, and advocacy to build the capacity of middle level and high school leaders to continually improve student performance. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development as well, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Association of Student Councils. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit www.nassp.org.
About MetLife Resources MetLife Resources is a division of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, a MetLife company. MetLife is a subsidiary of MetLife Inc., a leading global provider of insurance, annuities, and employee benefit programs, serving 90 million customers. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. For more information, please visitwww.metlife.com/mlr.