Fairport Central School District’s Dave Dunn, principal at Martha Brown Middle School, has been named a National Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (AESMP), which recognizes accomplished elementary and middle-level principals from across the nation and abroad as a part of its annual National Distinguished Principals (NDP) program. Dunn was previously selected as the 2019 New York State Middle School Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS) and NAESP.
Dunn, as part of the 2019 class of NDPs, will be honored during a two-day event in Washington, D.C. that culminates with an awards banquet on Oct. 11.
“This recognition has been a culmination of my many years in Fairport as a teacher and principal,” said Dunn. “I am a product of Fairport, from the staff, students and community whom I have all worked with over the past 43 years. This is an acknowledgement that I have embraced our Fairport community and the community has embraced me.”
As the principal of Martha Brown for the past 25 years, Dunn embodies the spirit of the Fairport community having been a lifelong resident. Before his years in administration, he was a mathematics teacher. Dunn has spent his entire 43-year career at Fairport CSD.
“Dave Dunn is driven by a deep-seated passion to help our young adolescents experience social and academic success,” said Superintendent of Schools Brett Provenzano. “Above all, he is a caring presence, one who his students and colleagues view as being instrumental to their school experience. He is dedicated to serving others, passionate about making a difference, and committed to student success.”
Principal honorees are selected by NAESP state affiliates and by committees representing private and overseas schools. Criteria for selection of the principals require that the honorees are active principals of schools where programs are designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students and where there are firmly established community ties with parents and local business organizations.
It is particularly fitting to acknowledge the work of principals in October because it is National Principals Month, which was established to recognize and honor the contributions of school principals toward the success of the nation’s students, and encourage awareness of their significance.
Established in 1921, the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) leads in the advocacy and support for elementary and middle school principals in the United States and internationally. NAESP supports principals as the primary catalysts for creating lasting foundations for learning through policy and professional learning, advocacy, programs, and resources for effective instructional leadership. NAESP advances the profession on behalf of all principals, providing specialized support and mentoring for early career principals. Key focus areas include pre-K-3 education, school safety, technology and digital learning, and capacity-building educator evaluation. For more information about NAESP, visit www.naesp.org.