District Five principal receives Outstanding Educator Award
May 15, 2014
IRMO, SC – A Lexington-Richland School District Five administrator has received this year’s Columbia College Wil Lou Gray Outstanding Educator Award.
Chapin Middle School Principal Anna Miller was presented with the award during a recent ceremony at the women’s college. Established in 1985, the award is given to Columbia College alumni who have distinguished themselves and Columbia College by outstanding accomplishments and achievements in the field of education.
“I am honored to be selected as the recipient of this award – especially since it comes from Columbia College, a college near and dear to my heart and a school known for producing strong female leaders,” Miller said. “It is great to join the amazing educators who have previously received this award and to represent Chapin Middle and District Five. Every educator needs a strong team, and I am fortunate to have the support of wonderful staff, students, parents and the community.”
Miller is in her second year as principal at Chapin Middle, a District Five school with 1,117 students in grades 6, 7 and 8. The most recent school report card rated Chapin Middle School Excellent/Excellent, and the school was awarded Gold status from the Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards program. It received an “A” rating under the current federal accountability system.
Under Miller’s leadership, Chapin Middle has achieved Banner status with the state Department of Education’s Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports initiative, and has scored 100 percent on last year’s and this year’s school evaluation for the initiative. Miller is a member of Palmetto State Teacher’s Association, South Carolina Middle School Association, Association for Curriculum and Development, Association for Middle Level Education, National Association of Secondary School Principals, and the South Carolina Association of School Administrators. She also was named Teacher of the Year for District Five for the 2007-2008 school year and earned her National Board Certification in 2000.
Miller was nominated for the Outstanding Educator Award by Julie King, an admissions director at Columbia College.
“I’ve have had the privilege of knowing Anna Miller for a number of years,” King said. “I met her during her senior year of high school and knew at that point she was someone who was going to do incredible things with her life. I never imagined that she would end up being the principal of the school my children attend. We are truly blessed to have such an amazing person in this role. She has become an incredible educator.”
District Five Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hefner added, “Ms. Miller exemplifies the extraordinary educators and administrators we have in our district. We congratulate her on receiving this award and look forward to the great things she will continue to do at Chapin Middle School and District Five.”
