What no claiming to have saved thousands of kids through his STRAIGHT program from 1982 - ? Well that's a first for an ex-director. hmmm
April 7-13
http://www.fcnp.com/505/story1.htmMel Riddle of J.E.B. Stuart Named 2005 Outstanding Principal
Mel Riddile , principal of Stuart High School , has been named the 2005 Outstanding High School principal by the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (VASSP). Riddile will receive his award at the Virginia Middle and High School Principals Conference and Exposition in Williamsburg in June .
According to VASSP executive director Randy Barrack, Riddile was selected for the award for taking risks to improve student learning, anticipating potential problems and acting to resolve them, actively implementing the goals and objectives of the school, working collaboratively with teachers and staff members to improve the educational program and student achievement, establishing a positive school climate for students and staff members, involving the community in the school and using community resources for students, and demonstrating creativity and imagination in bringing about positive change.
During his administration, students at Stuart have dramatically improved their SAT scores. Stuart has been ranked among the top Washington metropolitan area high schools on the Washington Post?s Challenge Index for providing a challenging curriculum. Stuart students also enjoy an 86 percent success rate on their International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. The school was identified as one of the ten best high schools in the nation serving underserved students for a study commissioned by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and was named an NASSP Breakthrough High School in 2003.
International Baccalaureate (IB) of North America gave its Inspiration Award to Riddile in 2004. He has also been honored as Administrator of the Year by the Greater Washington Reading Council, received a Community Service Award from the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center, and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Mental Health Association of Northern Virginia. Riddile has been a presenter and keynote speaker at numerous state and national meetings.
Riddile has been principal at Stuart since 1997. He began his career in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) as a social studies teacher at Lee High School in 1972 and also served as assistant principal at Lee and Annandale High Schools, as a subschool principal at Chantilly High School, and as coordinator of the FCPS substance abuse prevention program. He worked with the U.S. Department of Education as a consultant from 1980-82.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in education, history, and political science, Riddile earned his M.A. in educational administration from George Mason University and his Ed.D. in educational leadership from Vanderbilt University .