Statement issued Wednesday:

The Indiana State Board of Education recognized Indiana’s “Title 1 Distinguished Principals” at this morning’s monthly meeting. These school leaders come from high-performing, high-poverty schools and provide assistance to Title I schools in implementing school improvement plans.

“Every student—regardless of the color of their skin or how much money mom and dad have in the bank—deserves exceptional learning opportunities, and I believe excellence in education begins with great teachers and school leaders,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett. “These Distinguished Principals are improving academic achievement in high-poverty schools, proving once again Indiana’s students will meet or exceed the high expectations we set for them. I look forward to learning of their continued success, and I hope all Indiana schools will look to these great leaders as an example of excellence.”

Each Distinguished Principal is paired with a Comprehensive Intensive Title 1 school and works with fellow principals, teachers, administrative staff and community members to enhance student learning opportunities in that school. These efforts form an important component of the Indiana Institute for School Leadership Teams, a two-year program for Title 1 Comprehensive Intensive Schools aimed at fostering increased academic achievement in underperforming schools.

The Title 1 Distinguished Principals are:

David Rohl, principal at Perry Meridian Middle School in Indianapolis, serving as Distinguished Principal for Abbett Elementary in Fort Wayne

Jeff Cline, principal at Fairfield Elementary in Fort Wayne, serving as Distinguished Principal for Madison Primary in South Bend

Maribeth Guhl, principal at Meredith Nicholson Elementary in Indianapolis, serving as Distinguished Principal for Indianapolis Lighthouse Charter

Julie Bakehorn, principal at Brookside Elementary in Indianapolis, serving as Distinguished Principal for Beck Elementary in Elkhart

Greg Myers, principal at J.E. Ober Elementary School in Garrett, serving as Co-Distinguished Principal for Dugger Elementary in Northeast School Corporation

Tonya Weaver, administrator at Garrett-Keyser-Butler CSD, serving as Co-Distinguished Principal for Dugger Elementary in Northeast School Corporation

Sally Vaught, principal at Loper Elementary in Shelbyville, serving as Distinguished Principal for Southwick Elementary in East Allen

Stephen Foster, principal at Creston Intermediate Academy, serving as Distinguished Principal for Howard Roosa in Evansville

Kristie Sweeney, regional director for Lighthouse Academies Charter School in Indianapolis, serving as Distinguished Principal for McGary Middle School in Evansville

Phil Talbert, principal at Hawthorne Elementary in Warren Township, serving as Distinguished Principal for Village Elementary in East Allen

Title 1 is the largest federal-aid program in K-12 education. Serving over 150 million children nationwide, the program provides financial assistance to schools and districts with high percentages of students from low-income families to help ensure all children meet challenging state academic standards.