Saratoga Springs Administrator Honored with State Award

ALBANY, NY (12/12/2014)(readMedia)-- ALBANY, NY – Jennifer Drautz, an assistant principal at Maple Avenue Middle School in the Saratoga Springs City School District, has been selected as the 2015 New York State Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS). This award is given annually by SAANYS and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) to an assistant principal who has set the pace, character, and quality of education for the students in his or her school. Nominees are administrators who are committed to students, parents, and the community and have shown exceptional contributions to the educational process.

Nominated by a team of teachers at Maple Avenue, Drautz is recognized for her "impeccable" work ethic, deep connection and working relationship with teachers, and an unwavering commitment to students. Commented Maple Avenue Teacher Tom Reilly: "Because there is a high level of mutual respect between this administrator and her teachers, a climate for growth exists. Ms. Drautz always says, 'Schools were built for students, the reason why we are all here is to help them grow.' This simple advice has a way of reminding us all of who we serve every day and why we are teachers."

During a time of new and multiple state reform initiatives, Drautz has been credited for leading her team through the transitions smoothly and effectively. She is fully engaged in the school's efforts to shift the curriculum to incorporate further student-centered and hands-on learning, as well as a renewed focus on curriculum mapping and data analysis. During the implementation of the new evaluation system, Drautz again demonstrated her professionalism and commitment to teacher development by sitting with each teacher to explain the framework, its true purpose, and ways that it could be used for growth. "We soon realized that the framework could become a strong ally to help teachers improve instruction," commented a teacher.

Drautz is not only a champion for the students and teachers of Maple Avenue but for the profession of school leadership as well. She is an active member of SAANYS, sitting on numerous local and statewide committees and is involved in organizing many events and professional growth opportunities for colleagues.

Drautz will be honored for her accomplishments at a May awards ceremony in Albany. As the NYS Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year, Drautz is now a candidate for the award of National Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year, an award sponsored by NASSP and Virco. A forum and awards ceremony sponsored by NASSP and Virco will be held in Washington, DC in April.

SAANYS represents nearly 7,200 school administrators, supervisors, and coordinators. As a professional association, SAANYS is committed to providing direction, service, and support to the membership in their efforts to improve the quality of education and leadership in New York State schools. SAANYS is affiliated with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

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