The Mayor's Principal of the Year Award is an annual award that recognizes outstanding San Francisco public school principals for their dedication, professionalism, and work on behalf of our City's young people. The awardees were selected based on their outstanding ability to promote student achievement, accountability, and equity and access in the classroom and school site.
2012-2013
Please visit the link below to see photos of this year’s awardees.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89173203@N05/sets/72157633610700664/
Dr. E’leva Gibson, Site Administrator at Tule Elk Park Early Education School and Transitional Kindergarten Supervisor
Mr. William Lucey, West Portal Elementary School
Mr. Doug Dent, Aptos Middle School
Ericka Lovrin, George Washington High School
Dr. E’leva Gibson, Site Administrator at Tule Elk Park Early Education School and Transitional Kindergarten Supervisor
Dr. E’leva Hughes Gibson joined the San Francisco Unified School District faculty in 2000. She is currently the site administrator for Tule Elk Park Early Education School and serves on the Early Education Department (EED) team for establishing the new Transitional Kindergarten (TK) grade level. Working with the youngest of learners, she has been afforded the opportunity to support the foundational development skills of students, build systems that align PreK-12th grade expectations, provide equitable educational opportunities for 21st century learning, and promote teaching the “whole child.” As a product of the SFUSD and a native San Franciscan, she is familiar with the experiences of urban youth and is committed to the core values of the district to promote access, equity, and social justice. This year at Tule Elk Park EES, she has worked with her dedicated staff, parent group, and community partners to raise over $50,000 to sustain the eco-literacy program, build a partnership with The Plant Café restaurant to use herbs from the school garden, and promote early literacy.
Mr. William Lucey, West Portal Elementary School
William is a native San Franciscan and is from a large family with seven sisters and two brothers. His father, Jim, and his sisters, Julia and Abbie, inspired him to pursue a career in education. After receiving credentials at SF State, he began his teaching career as a fourth and fifth grade teacher. In 2003, he started his present position as Principal of West Portal School, which is the neighborhood he grew up in as a child. William is appreciative of his wonderful staff at West Portal who has been instrumental in his growth as a principal as well as the LEAD office and fellow principals for their support over the past 10 years. Most importantly, he would like to thank his wife, Beth, for the incredible support she has provided him over the years.
Mr. Doug Dent, Aptos Middle School
Doug was born in San Jose and grew up in Concord, CA. After receiving a MBA from University of Utah, he worked as an Industrial Engineer for US Steel in Pittsburg, CA, discharged as Lieutenant in US Navy, worked as a Health Science Budget Analyst for the University of California Office of the President at UC Davis, then at the Sacramento Medical Center, and later on, moved into hospital administration culminating as Chief Executive Officer of Doctors Medial Center Modesto. Doug began his teaching career at San Joaquin County Office of Education while acquiring his teaching credential. He was then hired by James Taylor as math and science teacher at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Middle School and worked with fellow awardee, Dr. E’leva Hughes Gibson. Afterwards, he became Assistant Principal at Aptos Middle School in 2006, which he was hired by fellow awardee, Ericka Lovrin. In 2010, Doug became Principal of Aptos Middle School. He has found that being a principal has been the most difficult and rewarding of all of his endeavors. He is married to Dale Silvey of Chicago. They have 10 grandchildren, four step-grandkids, and they agree on everything except baseball, football, basketball, and hockey teams.
Ericka Lovrin, George Washington High School
Ericka’s 5th and 6th grade teachers helped her to realize that she wanted to be a teacher. Through their passion, she wanted to be able to teach others and see the light in a child’s eye when they learned something new or help them overcome a challenging problem. Ericka decided to become a principal because she wanted to work with students, teachers, parents and community members to build quality schools in San Francisco. She has been fortunate to be a part of adding to the traditions of such great schools as Lincoln High School as an Assistant Principal; Aptos Middle School as the Principal and now the Principal of George Washington High School. As a principal, she enjoys floating an idea to the faculty and watching as the idea catches on and positively impacts the lives of students. Ericka’s goal has always been to be a teacher inside and outside of the classroom and to assist students on their educational journey.
2011-2012
Alan V. Broussard, Executive Director, Early Education Department
Carol L. Fong, Principal, Ulloa Elementary School
James S. Dierke, Principal, Visitacion Valley Middle School
Andrew W. Ishibashi, Principal, Lowell High School
2010-2011
James D. Fithian, San Francisco Court Schools
JoLynn Washington, Jowe Ortega Elementary School
David Wong, Francis Scott Key, Elementary School
James D. Fithian, San Francisco Court Schools
Mr. Fithian has been an outstanding advocate for our most ‘at risk’ students. He began his career in San Francisco Unified School District as a substitute music teacher, and discovered his passion for working with students in court schools. After proving to be a dedicated and effective principal, Mr. Fithian has decided go back to the classroom and teach at Log Cabin this coming school year so that he can help students in a more hands on capacity.
JoLynn Washington, Jose Ortega Elementary School
As principal of Jose Ortega Elementary School, JoLynn Washington emphasizes a culture of service. Ms. Washington initiated the Mandarin Immersion program to enrich the learning experiences of the diverse population of students. Jose Ortega also offers students the opportunity to participate in community garden and greening projects, as well as various social awareness drives. Principal Washington ensures her students have access to after school programs and extracurricular activities such as a monthly book club. Her effective leadership is evident in the vast progress Jose Ortega has made on both an academic and community level.
David Wong, Francis Scott Key Elementary School
Mr. Wong has been the principal of Francis Scott Key for many years. His commitment to the school ranges from opening the schoolyard on the weekends to the public, to initiating a food pantry so that families have access to nutritious meals. Francis Scott Key’s motto, "Building Healthy Minds and Bodies," is promoted through various programs that support student emotional and physical well-being. Students have the opportunity to participate in multiple instrumental and dance programs, along with physical activities and after school programs. As a result of Principal Wong’s extraordinary leadership, Francis Scott Key is a seven-time winner of the Title I Academic Achievement Award.
2009-2010
Mr. Raul Erazo-Chavez, Bryant Child Development Center
Ms. Sara Shenkan-Rich, Sherman Elementary School
Ms. Judith Giampaoli, Francisco Middle School
Mr. William Kappenhagen, Phillip and Sala Burton Academic High School
2008-2009
Zaida Rodriguez, Bryant CDC and Mission CDC Sandra Leigh Milk, Civil Rights Academy
Diane Panagotacos, Roosevelt Middle School
Ronald Pang, Lincoln High School
