TERRY M. NELSON: WEST VIRGINIA'S 2010 NATIONAL DISTINGUISHED PRINCIPAL

Terry M. Nelson, Principal of Midland Elementary School, in Randolph County was selected as West Virginia’s 2010 National Distinguished Principal at The WVAEMSP Executive committee meeting on May 1st, 2010. The 2010 celebration marks the 27th year that the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the U.S. Department of Education have presented this prestigious award.

Mr. Nelson was nominated by a Midland staff member and was selected by a committee of fellow principals and representatives of the business community through a process conducted by the West Virginia Elementary School Principals Association.  An educator since 1979, Mr. Nelson has worked for the past 30 years in West Virginia’s public school system. Terry received his Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from  Davis and Elkins College and received his Master’s Degree in Education Administration from West Virginia University. Mr. Nelson taught elementary school at Belington Elementary in Barbour County for 17 years.  He has served as  Principal in Randolph County for 13 years serving as Principal at Coalton, Homestead, and Midland Elementary Schools.  Mr. Nelson runs his school through a system of caring that supports student success and nurtures a healthy, safe and viable learning community.  He has set the motto for the school: “Success Is Our Only Option”.  As principal of all three elementary schools he has experienced success by being awarded Title I Distinguished Schools and the High Achieving Schools award over the years. 

In October, Mr. Nelson will travel to Washington, D.C., for two days of activities planned to honor and bring well-deserved recognition to elementary and middle level administrators chosen by their states, the District of Columbia, plus private and overseas schools.

Criteria for selection of the principals, set by NAESP and the U.S. Department of Education, require that the honorees are active principals of schools where programs are designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students.  Whereas strong and firm community ties with parents and local business organizations has been established.

Mr. Nelson, was one of a number of nominees for the 2010 National Distinguished Principal in West Virginia. 

The executive director training at National Headquarters

Hello and welcome to WVPRINCIPALS.ORG. As executive director of the West Virginia Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals,  it is my pleasure to  introduce this new Web site. You can find out more about us, discover education-related links, find our sponsors, our officers, information regarding membership, etc. 

Readers can add comments/questions to any post on this site (notice the “Add Comments” button below). This might take some getting used to, but over time I expect we’ll find great value in such a capability.

Lastly, and most importantly, this site will now function as the primary mean of communication with members and the public. Please sign-up to receive email notifications when the site is updated by clicking here. This will ensure you remain informed regarding issues of importance to school principals across West Virginia.

I hope your school year is going well and I look forward to communicating further with you via this Web site. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions, or again, leave a comment below.