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| Joyce L. Johnson-Thompson named distinguished principal |
| A gala was given at the J.W. Marriott Hotel,
Washington, D.C. by National Distinguished Principals, to honor Joyce L. Johnson-Thompson,
principal, Marion P. Shadd Elementary School, District of Columbia Public Schools, in
Washington, DC and other principals representing 50 states and the District of Colombia
chosen by their peers. National Distinguished Principals, is a program designed to honor outstanding elementary and middle school administrations, who assure that America’s children acquire a sound foundation for lifelong learning and achievement. Ms. Thompson was educated in the public schools of Houston, Texas, attending Crawford Elementary School, E.O. Smith Junior High School and Phillis Wheatley Senior High School. A majorette at E.O. Smith and Wheatley she graduated from PWHS with honors in the spring of 1961. She earned her B.S. Degree in Sociology in 1965 at Tennessee State University, and M.Ed- Degree, Bowie State University, with a (4.0 grade point average). She continued her education at Harvard University Graduate School of Education, (Certificate- Programs in Professional Education). Thompson taught in the Houston Independent School District at Kashmere Junior/Senior High School in 1965-66, and served on the staff that opened I.M. Terrell Junior High School (1966-70), and Sharpstown Junior High 1970-71. She moved to Washington, DC (1971) and held the following positions in the District of Columbia Public Schools: teacher and assistant principal (junior high school); principal Katie C. Lewis Elementary School; assistant superintendent, (school support division); and principal, Shadd Elementary from 1998 to the present. Thompson is grateful to HISD for having received an excellent education. She said she had great teachers including Eddie B. Dial, Ollie B. Harris , Crawford Elementary; Mrs. McCoy, Ms. Veronica Ayres, and Mrs. Nellie Joyce Punch, E.O. Smith; and Eddie Courtney, James P. Mosley, and Mrs. Johnson at Wheatley to name a few. Harris, her 6th grade teacher was responsible for bringing her into the Houston Independent School District as a teacher. Thompson is the mother of two sons, Errol Thompson, Washington DC and Erik Thompson, a member of the United States Navy. Where a troubled inner-city school once stood, a new Marion P. Shadd Elementary emerged three years ago under Thompson’s leadership. With only a few weeks to prepare for the school’s reopening, the freshly appointed principal led a cleanup of the neglected building and hired an entire new staff. “I have worked to build a staff of people who realize the importance of involving parents in the educational process.” Her focus on improving the academic performance of Shadd’s 315 Head Start 5 students included setting goals for progress at each grade level, implementing the Success for All schoolwide reading programs and an after school reading and math program, and using more resource teachers to enhance reading and math skills. Having inherited 118 unresolved special education cases; Thompson met the challenge of eliminating the backlog of incomplete evaluations for students in need of special services. She lobbied district personnel to add teachers with special education training, provided a workshop for staff on procedures for identifying and evaluating children for special services and promoted strategies for including those with special needs in regular classroom instruction. The reforms improved student achievement and behavior, earning the school $15,000 for reaching all six goals for change mandated by its district. President George Bush stated, “Congratulations to the 2001 National Distinguished Principals, as you are recognized by your colleagues for your dedication and hard work on behalf of our Nation’s children. Our world and our Nation are constantly changing, and our schools must work to meet these ever new challenges. School districts must examine how they are organized, how they teach, and how they assess progress, all with the purpose of providing our children an excellent education. Leaders like you understand the need for change and how to direct your schools toward positive development. You demonstrate daily the ability and determination needed to drive change and to meet the need of each child for whom you bear responsibility.” Secretary of Education, Rod Paige stated, “Congratulations to the 2001 National distinguished principals as you gather in our nation’s capital. I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Education is again cosponsoring the National distinguished Principals program. Celebrating its 18th year, this program recognizes you for seeing beyond the immediate to the future needs of the children in your schools. As visionaries, you inspire families, community members, and your staffs to imagine then achieve what can be, not just what has always been.” |
| June Archives |