The Maine Principals’ Association has announced its 2015 Maine Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year at both the elementary and secondary school levels.
Kim O’Donnell, assistant principal at Buxton Center Elementary School, has been named the 2015 Maine Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year at the elementary level
O’Donnell received the award based on her accomplishments as a strong elementary educational leader and as a role model in the development of positive school culture, building student-centered programs and creating high quality professional development for the staff in her school and district.
In announcing O’Donnell’s selection, MPA Executive Director Richard Durost noted, “Kim O’Donnell is extremely deserving of this honor. She is an outstanding representative of all Maine assistant principals and the key roles they play in leading caring, successful schools.”
O’Donnell received her Bachelor of Science and her Masters in Exceptionality and also completed her Assistant Principal Program, all from the University of Southern Maine in Gorham.
She has served as the assistant principal at Buxton Center Elementary School since 2008. Prior to this, O’Donnell was a Kindergarten teacher in Scarborough from 2004-08, a multi-age teacher in Scarborough from 1996-04, and served as a Grade 1/Transitional 1/Reading Recovery and Title 1 Reading and Math teacher from 1989-1996.
O’Donnell is a member of the Maine Principals’ Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) and the Maine ASCD.
Meanwhile, Joshua Ottow, assistant principal at Yarmouth High School, has been named 2015 Maine Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year at the high school level.
In addition to being honored alongside O’Donnell at MPA’s annual awards banquet at its Spring Conference on April 30, he will also be recognized by the National Association of Secondary School Principals at a three-day program to be held in Washington, D.C. later this month.
Ottow received the Maine award based on his accomplishments as a collaborative educational leader, as a role model in the development of positive school culture, student-centered policies and programs, and as a tireless advocate for assistant principals.
In announcing Ottow’s selection, MPA Executive Director Richard Durost noted, “Josh Ottow is an outstanding example of the next generation of school leaders and the increased responsibilities we place on them. The leadership and support of Principal Ted Hall has been a significant factor in Mr. Ottow’s growth and success.”
Ottow received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire in 2001, his MSEd from the University of Southern Maine in 2005, his CAS from the University of Maine in 2014 and is currently in progress towards receiving his Ed.D., also from the University of Maine.
He has served as the assistant principal at Yarmouth since 2011 and prior to that was assistant principal of Mt. Ararat High School beginning in 2007 after teaching history at Mt. Ararat since 2003.
Ottow is a member of the Maine Principals’ Association, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, Maine Youth Court Advisory Council, Yarmouth Pre-School/Daycare Board of Directors, Congregation Bet Ha’am and the Cumberland men’s Basketball League.
The Maine Principals’ Association is a professional association representing Maine’s K-12 educational leaders. The Association dates its history back to 1921 and focuses its work on promoting the principalship, educational leadership, and promoting and administering interscholastic activities in grades 9-12.