Solvay Administrator ?Selected Middle School Principal of the Year

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Werbeck, Middle School Principal of the Year

ALBANY, NY (04/16/2012)(readMedia)-- James Werbeck, principal at Solvay Middle School, has been selected as a 2012 New York State Middle School Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS). This award is given annually to member of SAANYS and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) who has set the pace, character, and quality of education for the children 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.

Werbeck has been an educator for 32 years and a school administrator in Solvay School District since 1994.

In letters of recommendation, Werbeck is complimented on his leadership skills, his dedication to his students and the community, and his many accomplishments. According to Kathleen Dobe-Call, a parent and volunteer at Solvay, "Jim has first and foremost sought to create a firm foundation for lifelong learning, not only in the area of academics but also in encouraging children to be thoughtful and considerate in all their interactions. . . . his relationship with parents and families helps to cultivate a feeling of community in our school."

Erica Haahr, special education teacher at Solvay Middle School noted, "Mr. Werbeck is very supportive and complimentary of his staff. He truly makes people feel that the hard work they do does not go unacknowledged. His door is always open with any care or concerns his students or teachers have. He loves what he does and it shows."

When asked about his most significant accomplishments as a principal, Werbeck noted three: facilitating the capital building project for a new middle school, organizing and implementing the district's first Response to Intervention (RTI) team, and organizing and implementing the middle school Positive Behavioral Intervention System (PBIS) program at the middle school.

Werbeck will be honored for his accomplishments at an awards ceremony on May 4, 2012 at the Century House in Latham, New York. As the SAANYS/NAESP Middle School Principal of the Year, Werbeck will be celebrated as a National Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals at a recognition program sponsored by NAESP and VALIC this fall in Washington, DC.

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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).