| | Published April 15th, 2009
| And the Award Goes to...Campolindo! 2009 Secondary Principal of the Year
| | By Jean Follmer |  | | Campolinda High School Principal Carol Kitchen cheers in the first row left Photo provided
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Campolindo High School Principal, Carol Kitchens, has been selected by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) as the 2009 recipient of the Secondary Principal of the Year Award. The distinguished honor is presented annually in recognition of the outstanding performance and achievements of an individual within the California public school system. Kitchens will be recognized in an upcoming issue of EdCal and at the ACSA Leadership Summit that will be held in Sacramento this November.
Kitchens is not a leader who avoids change and growth - she embraces them. In her nine years as Campolindo High School Principal, Kitchens has seen the school grow from 800 to 1,400 students.
"When issues arise that require her attention, she quickly collects the necessary information, meets with those whose knowledge and expertise are required, and comes to a quick and fair resolution. She faces issues head-on and quickly," said Campolindo Administrative Assistant Mary Eggertsen.
Eggertsen said Kitchens has overseen numerous expansions and improvement throughout the campus. "She has restructured the faculty, departments, subject areas and school site meetings, begun a freshman transition program, provided students a greater role in the student activities program, overseen the building of a new theater and all new athletic fields, trained staff on assessment and interpreting data to effect school change and managed the school's six-year accredited self-study report," continued Eggertsen.
Dennis Regalado, the Director of Alternative & Community Education for Acalanes Union High School District echoed Eggertsen's enthusiasm in his nomination letter to ACSA.
"Carol has provided the leadership to make Campolindo one of the top high schools in the region, state, and nation," Regalado says. "Campolindo High School excels in every measure used to evaluate a school, from graduation rates, college entry, test scores, an API of over 900, an outstanding visual and performing arts program, to an outstanding athletic program turning out Olympic athletes. In every aspect of a comprehensive high school Carol's leadership, dedication, vision and passion can be seen."
Kitchens was thrilled to receive the news of the award when she returned from spring break. "I am honored," she says. "To receive an award for something I love doing, which allows me to work with an incredibly bright and talented student body and staff, and to be supported by a community, a district, and a board of education that want the best well-rounded education for all students is truly gratifying. Campolindo is a place where we all teach and we all learn together under the same roof."
Mary Eggertsen contributed to this article.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA