Former Ramstein principal
is recognized as distinguished leader
By Rick Emert, Stars
and Stripes
Elaine Grande |
The former principal of Ramstein Elementary School in Germany was recognized Oct. 5 as
a National Distinguished Principal by the Department of Education and the National
Association of Elementary School Principals.
Elaine Grande, who was the Ramstein Elementary School principal from 1999 until this
year, was one of only 64 principals nationwide and the only one from Department of Defense
overseas schools to earn the distinction, according to a press release from the Department
of Education.
Grande, with 34 years experience in education, said the distinction was both "an
honor and very humbling."
"It’s been a very self-actualizing experience, having been in education for
over 30 years and reaching this point where I’m recognized for many years of
service," she said. "As I joined the other 63 National Distinguished Principals
in Washington, D.C., it was an honor, but it was humbling to be with so many great
educators."
In her position as principal, she led the faculty in trying to improve the
school’s curriculum and environment.
"One of the things I focused on was building the school’s culture and
focusing our efforts on specific goals that, as a faculty, we decided on to improve
student achievement," she said.
One member of that faculty, first-grade teacher Joan Thomas, was one of several people
who nominated Grande as a National Distinguished Principal.
"The entire faculty decided [while Grande was principal] that our schoolwide
instructional focus would be literacy," Thomas said. "She helped us realize what
we could achieve in that area."
Grande also was nominated by David Markewitz, principal of Kaiserslautern Elementary
School. Markewitz has known Grande for almost 20 years.
"I was lucky enough to have her as my mentor when we worked together in the
Philippines," he said. There, Markewitz was a talented and gifted program teacher,
and Grande headed the program.
"She’s an outstanding educational leader," Markewitz said. "Like
any good leader, she’s a strong communicator and she’s a good listener.
She’s not afraid to make the tough decisions."
After 11 years as a principal at schools in Germany, Japan and the Philippines, Grande
took a position earlier this year working as the executive officer for the Kaiserslautern
District Superintendent’s Office, at the request of the superintendent, Archie Bates.
"I asked her to take the position because of her abilities," Bates said.
"She’s certainly demonstrated her organization abilities. She is working with 15
schools and looking very carefully at how those schools are staffed."
Grande said the position was a change that would take some adjustment.
"I said during my statement [at the Oct. 19 National Distinguished Principal
recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C.] that this year’s first day of school was
very different for me," she said. "It was the first time in 34 years that I
hadn’t started the first day with students."
But in the new position she has the chance to affect more than just one school.
"Because this is the district superintendent’s office, I’m now in the
position to impact positively all the schools in the district instead of just one,"
Grande said. "I miss that direct contact with the students and parents, but I see
this as a challenge. I’ve always felt that we have to grow. If we stop growing, where
is the challenge in life?"
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