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Contact: Patricia M. Chivers FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kathy Wood, Ph.D. Among Nation's Best K-8 Principals A graduate of Georgia State University, Dr. Wood previously held the position of Dean of Students at St. Pius X Catholic High School and as the Principal and a teacher at St. John Neumann Regional Catholic School. She has served as principal of Queen of Angels Catholic School since 2003. "At the helm of every successful school is a successful principal," said Gail Connelly, NAESP's Executive Director. "Our National Distinguished Principals program provides us with an opportunity to recognize the outstanding leadership of these principals and their commitment to creating successful learning communities. Because of them, students thrive academically, teachers grow professionally, and communities are strengthened." In October, Wood will travel to Washington, D.C., for two days of activities planned to honor and bring well-deserved recognition to the elementary and middle-level educators chosen by the states, the District of Columbia, plus private and overseas schools. Criteria for selection of the principals require that the honorees are active principals of schools where programs are designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students and where there are firmly established community ties with parents and local business organizations. "To my knowledge, and confirmed by many of our longer-serving principals, Kathy Wood becomes the first principal from the Archdiocese of Atlanta to receive both an NCEA principal of the year recognition and the Distinguished Principal Award sponsored by NAESP," said Dr. Starkovich. The Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory, Archbishop of Atlanta, said "I would like to add my congratulations to Dr. Wood on receiving this prestigious award from the NAESP. Dr. Wood serves as an example of the dedicated principals in our Archdiocese who lead our Catholic schools to become schools of excellence –- both in solid faith formation and strong academics. I am very grateful for her many years of service to the Archdiocese and proud to begin this new school year by celebrating such great news." Wood and her husband, John Wood, live in Cumming, and have three sons and five grandchildren. The National Distinguished Principals program is made possible through the corporate sponsorship of VALIC, an active supporter of NAESP for nearly two decades. For more than half a century, VALIC has served as a leading plan provider for K-12 schools, higher education and healthcare institutions and manages plans for nearly 25,000 groups, serving nearly two million plan participants. For more information or interview requests for Kathy Wood, Ph.D., contact Pat Chivers at pchivers@archatl.com or 678-480-6865. # # #
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ATLANTA — Kathy Wood, Ph.D., principal of Queen of Angels Catholic School in Roswell, Georgia, was selected by the National Association of Elementary School Principals as 2011 National Distinguished Principal. The 2011 celebration marks the 28th year that the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) has presented this prestigious award. Nominated by Diane Starkovich, Ph. D., Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Wood is one of only five private school principals in the country to be named with this honor.