Hand principal named 2006 National Distinguished Principal Award recipient
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AIG VALIC

Marisa Vickers

Marisa P. Vickers, principal of Hand Middle School, was selected as one of South Carolina's two 2006 National Distinguished Principals. AIG VALIC, a national leading provider of retirement plan services to for-profit and not-for-profit education, healthcare and government organizations. The National Association of Elementary School Principals announced the honor. The 2006 award celebration marks the 22nd year that the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the U.S. Department of Education have presented this prestigious award to our nation's leading principals.

A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Vickers has served as principal of Hand Middle School for five years.

Dr. Vincent Ferrandino, executive director of NAESP, commended all of this year's honorees for being role models for school leadership throughout the nation and the world. "Principals today face endless challenges," said Ferrandino. "As standards for student learning and teacher competency are raised, our school leaders keep expectations and morale high, often under the most difficult circumstances. The principals we honor today take the challenges in stride and with grace. Students and staffs flourish because of their commitment and their success should be applauded."

The principals are nominated by their peers based on their commitment to excellence and their contributions to guiding students, forging positive relationships with parents, and serving their community with distinction. Nominees must serve as a principal for a minimum of five years to be eligible.

Since joining Hand Middle School, Vickers has seen the student poverty rate grow by 20 percent. She and her staff have met this challenge by using more than $60,000 in grant funding to introduce a five-year program to transform the curriculum by focusing on the integration of arts into all subject areas. In 2005, Hand Middle School was recognized by the South Carolina Legislature for making the arts an essential component of education.