AUGUSTA — The Maine Principals’ Association has named Carol Hathorne, Hope Elementary School principal, as Maine’s 2011 Elementary National Distinguished Principal of the Year.

The award recognizes one elementary principal in Maine each year for effective leadership, a commitment to academic excellence, high expectations and standards, creating a culture that supports learning, contributions to the profession and community service.

MPA Executive Director Richard Durost said, “Mrs. Hathorne’s outstanding leadership of a K-eight school and her commitment to excellence in educating all students represent the very best qualities of the effective elementary school principal in Maine. Her commitment is clear and unequivocal. She is an exemplary educational leader and role model, who has high expectations for school staff, students, and herself.”

Hathorne will be honored at the MPA spring conference awards banquet on Thursday, April 28. She will also be honored by the National Association of Elementary School Principals on Oct. 20 and 21 in Washington, D.C.

Hathorne received a bachelor of science degree in elementary education in 1973 from the University of Southern Maine and a master’s degree in educational administration in 1990 from the University of Maine.

Prior to her appointment as principal of Hope Elementary School in 2000, she was principal of Sugg Middle School in Lisbon from 1998-2000 and Marion T. Morse Elementary School in Lisbon Falls from 1994-1998. She was the middle school director at Maranacook Community School in Readfield from 1990-1994.

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