AUBURN – Fifth-grader Sedrick Simons walked up to Sherwood Heights Principal Katy Grondin on Thursday as she was leaving her office.

“Can I eat with you today?” he asked.

It’s a common request.

Inside Grondin’s office is a small table. Several times a week she eats lunch there with three or four students for no special reason.

“We talk,” Grondin said.

That’s one of her strong points, said teacher Lynn Izzi, who had nominated Grondin as Maine’s elementary principal of the year. The nomination paid off; earlier this month the Maine Principals’ Association chose Grondin as Maine’s 2007 Elementary National Distinguished Principal of the Year.

“Katy always has children at the center of everything she does,” Izzi said. “She pushes for teachers to stretch and grow,” and she allows them to decide how. “She holds high standards for everyone, yet does it in a gentle, supportive manner.”

On April 26, Grondin will be honored at the Maine Principals’ Association’s spring conference. In October she and the other elementary principals of the year from other states will be honored in Washington, D.C.

But a special ceremony was held Thursday when fifth-graders honored her for her achievement.

Applause broke out as Grondin was led into Linda Roman’s room where students had assembled. Grondin sat in a chair in front of the room. A crown made of pink construction paper was placed on her head.

“We crown her No. 1 principal in all of Maine,” Roman proclaimed. Students broke into a song: “A you’re adorable, B you’re so beautiful …”

Fifth-graders took turns reading what they wrote about her.

“Dear Mrs. Grondin, thank you so much for helping me with my problem on the playground,” Jameson Rodrigues said. “You helped me with my problem instead of putting me down … Congrats on the contest. Your friend Jameson.”

Emily Scharib said all her teachers have helped her, “but no one makes learning fun like you do,” she said. Caitlyn Currie told Grondin “your contagious smile is all I need to make my day.”

Scott Grenier incorporated new vocabulary words into his essay. “Our school produces noble, modest and humble people every year. Thanks, Mrs. Grondin. Can you tell I’m learning new words?”

Jacob Lamson told Grondin she’s “strict but not mean, which is hard to do.”

“Wow,” said a surprised Grondin. “This is making my whole life.”

Others – Spencer Brown, Amanda Rivas, Evan Mancini, Caleb Fecteau, Nicole Pepin, Saree Boutin, Faith Daye, Travis Hinckley, Keyana Lee, Cassidy Cloutier, Michael Kopka, Tanner Ramich, Renae Coolong and Brandin Knowlton – praised her sense of humor, her kindness and encouragement, and the cartwheels Grondin has done during assemblies.

The ceremony ended with Grondin leading a Sherwood Heights cheer. She thanked them and said, “I’m an awesome principal because I have an awesome school.”

Grondin, 42, graduated from Edward Little in 1982. She got her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Southern Maine. She’s married and has two children.

She’s worked at Sherwood Heights for 17 years, first as a teacher, then assistant principal. This is her 17th year as principal.

The best part of being principal is “the kids. I like being with the kids. I’m their advocate. I’m an advocate for teachers also. My work is, ‘What are we going to do together to make this school where kids want to be?’ I want them to want to be here.”