Donna Braband, ELCA Acting Director for Schools

Last February a group of six reviewers poured over four applications for ELCA Principal of the Year. The person to be chosen would represent the ELCA Department for Schools in the National Distinguished Principal Awards Program (NDP), sponsored by the US Department of Education and the National Association of Elementary School Principals. The decision took longer than expected as we read and reread the applications. Finally, two weeks after the announcement deadline past, the committee selected Barbara Clark from St. Mark’s Lutheran School in Hacienda Heights, California.

In early June, the NDP private school selection committee met to review candidates from the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, The Roman Catholic Schools, Department of Defense Schools, International Schools, Independent Private Schools and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s schools. Representing the ELCA on this committee, convened by The Council for American Private Education (CAPE), was Mary Ann Pollock, principal at St. John’s Lutheran School in Baltimore, Maryland.

The ELCA Principal of the Year Barbara Clark was named one of seven 2001 National Distinguished Principals from the private school sector. With all of the formal filling out of forms, waiting to hear from selection committees and wondering about why nothing has been heard, we were finally ready to celebrate.

September 11, 2001 changed the lives of the people of the United States. It did not for one minute change the celebration that was planned for our nation’s 60+ National Distinguished Principals. On October 18 and 19, the country celebrated some of our nation’s premier school leaders with two days of learning and excitement. The principals shared stories, visited landmarks, heard about the state of education in the USA and how they are a big part of the accomplishments our schools are enjoying in both the private and public sectors.

Thursday evening the US State Department held a formal reception honoring Barbara and her fellow principals. There were welcomes and thank you’s from all who spoke. The most exciting part of the speeches was the way that they lifted up the principals and made them feel like the special people that they are. To be a part of this wonderful expression of appreciation for the education these National Distinguished Principals are giving our children was something very special. To see the excitement in Barbara and her friends and family that were present was something that will never be forgotten. Being in the US State Department to see the Americana that fills the Benjamin Franklin room was a nice benefit of the festivities for everyone who attended. It was especially appropriate for Barbara who is an American History teacher.

After a very full day of meetings and fellowship opportunities, the NDP’s and their guests assembled for a black tie dinner in their honor. Talking with these principals was a real privilege. I spoke with one principal who had been held at gunpoint for three hours while he talked a student into surrendering. Another principal talked about her battle with cancer and her recovery. She was then able to help a student’s family through their crisis when their daughter was diagnosed with cancer. Everyone had a story.

The best part of the evening was sharing with Barbara the excitement of receiving her award and NDP bell. It made me realize the excellent principals that the ELCA has to boast about.

Two week later, I was very fortunate to be in California at the same time as the celebration that Barbara’s community, congregation and school gave her. The afternoon began with a quartet made up of current students and alumni. The ringing of the NDP Bell by one of the students from St. Mark’s signified the beginning of the ceremonies. Officials from the community, the pastor who was at St. Mark’s when Barbara first began her ministry, her current pastor, and members of the congregation and school board all spoke of her style of leadership and deep commitment to Lutheran education. They talked of the many accomplishments, the growth of the school, the programming that has been instituted and the schools deep connection to the community of Hacienda Heights.

The most moving part of the program was testimonials given by a current student and an alumni. They both talked of Barbara as a leader, principal, and friend. The most moving moment was when a young lady who had Barbara as a history teacher when she graduated from St. Mark’s in 1989 told the crowd of more than 300 that she is now a teacher because of the influence of Miss Clark on her entire life. She now considers Miss Clark a friend whose door is always open to her, even now.

What more does a principal need than to be recognized for the wonderful accomplishments that they bring to their school? What more except to be recognized for that ability by a young women who was just a child when you first met her and now is a teacher herself because of your influence.

Barbara is a charming, fun, caring, nurturing, filled with humility principal who puts her students first. (If you ever meet Barbara you may want to ask her how she learned her humility.) She works hard to make everything a learning experience including when children are in the office for wrong doing. She tempers everything with the Gospel of Christ and together Barbara, her congregation, her staff, students, parents and the community of Hacienda Heights move forward in a special partnership to educate children and families.

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