York Designated as Master School Principal by State
Kay York (on left) is presented a plaque by Debbie Davis, director of the Arkansas Leadership Academy, in recognition of York's designation as Master School Principal. York is one of only nine receiving this distinction in the state.
Margaret Daniel Primary School principal Kay York was recently awarded the distinction of Master School Principal under the provisions and requirements of Senate Bill 46/Act 44 of the state of Arkansas.
On Monday, April 20, York was officially designated as a Master School Principal by the Arkansas Leadership Academy and presented a plaque by Debbie Davis, director of ALA, at the Ashdown School Board meeting. Davis also presented Ashdown superintendent Mike Walker and the school board with a plaque in recognition of their leadership and support of the Master School Principal program.
Only nine Arkansas school principals have been designated as Master School Principals, a process which includes three phases of accomplishments followed by one year of observation as a designee. The Master Principal Institute is under the administration of the Arkansas Leadership Academy and regulated by the Arkansas Department of Education.
The Master School Principal Program was initiated by Senate Bill 46 and then became Act 44 of the Second Extraordinary Session of 2003. The act proposes “to improve school performance by creating the Master School Principal Program” which provides “training programs and opportunities to expand the knowledge base and leadership skills of public school principals.”
York’s designation did not come overnight or without much hard work. The process is described by law as “rigorous,” with stringent review, modification, and assessment. Every phase of the evaluation is based on evidence, application of strategies, and performance that demonstrates sustained academic improvement in a school.
York began her work with the Arkansas Leadership Academy over ten years ago on a district team from Ashdown at the Arkansas Leadership Institute, before the Master School Principal Program even existed. Since then York has devoted many hours and days to the achievement of learning results for her primary school students, as well as success for their parents. Her hard work has been recognized through this honorable designation.