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Published Tuesday, July 05, 2011 in Local

Photo by Jeff Bishop

Georgia’s 2011 National Distinguished Principal award recipient and Lee Middle School principal, Dr. Bob Heaberlin, was nominated and selected by his fellow principals through a statewide search process.

Lee Middle School principal Heaberlin gets national award

By Jeff Bishop

The Newnan Times-Herald

Dr. Bob Heaberlin, principal of Lee Middle School in Coweta County, has been selected as Georgia's 2011 National Distinguished Principal.

This prestigious National Distinguished Principal award is given by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the U.S. Department of Education.

"Heaberlin was nominated and selected by his fellow principals through a statewide search process conducted by the Georgia Association of Middle School Principals," said Hal Beaver, executive director of GAMSP.

Heaberlin said the recognition is a true honor.

"This is one of the greatest things that's ever happened to me. But this award belongs to the whole school community. Not to me," Heaberlin said. "That's one thing I've learned, as I've gotten older. It's not all about you. It's about the people who support what you do. You only get there with other people."

He said that's one reason why the slogan of Lee Middle School is "We Are Fami-LEE."

"We have a real sense of community here at Lee Middle School," he said. "The students have a real sense of pride about the school. And we have very high expectations in all areas -- academics, citizenship, athletics, and fine arts. We think of ourselves as a 'school of champions,' and a champion can be defined in many ways. You can be a champion not just on the athletic field, but in your heart, in your mind."

A graduate of the University of Georgia (Ed.D), West Georgia College - now University of West Georgia (Ed.S), Francis Marion College (M.Ed), and Ohio University (BSEd.), Heaberlin previously held the positions of principal at Coweta schools including Newnan Crossing Elementary, East Coweta Middle School, Winston Dowdell Academy, and at Carroll County's Temple High School. In 2006 he opened Lee Middle School in Coweta County where he has served as principal for the past five years.

"School principals commit their professional lives to educational excellence and their personal lives to children," said Dr. Gail Connelly, NAESP's executive director. "They are uniquely dedicated public servants who rarely receive the kind of public recognition they deserve."

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

"I may even get to meet President Obama," said Heaberlin.

"Criteria for selection of the principals set by NAESP and the U.S. Department of Education requires that the honorees be selected by their colleagues for achievements above and beyond those expected in a school program," Beaver said.

In addition, each must have been a principal for five years; maintain high expectations of students and staff; show evidence of outstanding contributions to school and profession; and be an established, respected member of the community.

Heaberlin has enjoyed many accomplishments over the years, but the ones that particularly stood out to the committee included:

* Newnan Crossing becoming the second school in the state to implement a year-round school and receive a Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (GPEE) Georgia School Bus Stop and the GPEE Next Generation School Award.

* Temple High School receiving the Governor's Bronze Award for most improved GHSGT test scores in the state and the Governor's Cup for the most improved SAT scores in GHSA Region 6A.

* Lee Middle School has made Adequate Yearly Progress under the No Child Left Behind Law each year after its opening, and has received the GAMSP Effective Middle School Program Award in 2009 and the Georgia Middle School Association's Central District Team of the Year Award in 2008.

Heaberlin has received numerous awards over the years including the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL) Outstanding Educator Award, the Dr. John Lounsbury Award (contributions for middle level education), GAMSP Exemplary Leadership Award, and the GMSA President's Award.

As a leader, Heaberlin has served as president of GAEL and GAMSP and been a member of the NASSP No Child Left Behind Task Force as well as the Superintendent's Principal Advisory Council.

In addition to his duties as a principal Heaberlin has served as an adjunct assistant professor in the Educational Leadership and Doctoral Studies Departments since 2004 at the University of West Georgia. He promotes shared leadership and reaps as his reward an overwhelming outpouring of effort from parents, staff, and community to support educational objectives.

"This award is a huge honor," said Heaberlin. "But the only way we've accomplished anything is due to the faculty and students we've had over the years. They deserve this recognition as much as I do."

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