Tenenbaum Award honors three educators for success in school leadership training program
May 11, 2009COLUMBIA, SC – May 10, 2009 – Two principals and a staff member at the South Carolina Department of Education have been honored for outstanding performance in a training program that gives educators the kinds of skills used for success by top business executives.
They are 2009 graduates of the School Leadership Institute, a two-year course that brings together principals from across the state to develop and refine their management, communication and instructional practices. Three classes completed the institute this spring, and each selected a participant who showed superior leadership skills and dedication.
“These individuals are Tenenbaum Award recipients because they meant the most to their group’s learning,” said Sally Barefoot, director of the Office of School Leadership in the State Department of Education. The award is named for former State Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum, who created the institute eight years ago.
“Since its inception in January of 2000, twenty-six individuals have received this honor,” Barefoot said. “It’s a tradition that reflects the seriousness, academic rigor and depth of the program.”
Winners for the 2009 graduating classes are:
- Roderic Taylor, principal of Dutch Fork Middle School in Lexington/Richland School District Five for the past four years. Taylor also has been an assistant principal and teacher. He has 18 years of service in public education.
- Keith Price, principal of Blythewood High School in Richland County School District Two for the past two years. Price has been an assistant principal and teacher as well. He has 13 years of service in public education.
- Mike Thun, education associate in the Office of School Leadership. Thun also has served as an online facilitator and teacher with 15 years of service in public education.
“Strong school leadership has a major positive impact on teacher quality, school performance and student achievement,” State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex said. “Our profession needs to attract and keep more talented individuals like these fine award winners.”
The School Leadership Executive Institute is run by the Office of School Leadership in partnership with the Center for Creative Leadership and the University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business and College of Education.