Date:  November 15, 2002
Contact: Community Relations
(703) 791-8720

 Rae Darlington, Principal of Graham Park Middle School, has been selected by a committee of parents, teachers, administrators, and other school employees as the Prince William County Public Schools Principal of the Year and as the recipient of the Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leadership Award.  Lyn McElwee, Principal of Mountain View Elementary School, was also nominated by her school community.  Darlington will receive a plaque from the School Board at the board’s regular meeting on Wednesday, December 4 at 6 p.m.

Rae Darlington
Principal
Graham Park Middle School

Rae Darlington cheerfully begins each day perched on her ten-foot ladder with a megaphone in hand, greeting her students and playing a part in making it the “Best Day Ever.”  She strives to accomplish this with her enthusiasm, sense of humor, and positive attitude.  Televised morning news shows with tips on how to improve student performance and stories about student successes help build self-esteem and increase student achievement.  Sixth graders involved in the Reading Immersion Program are now reading at grade-level and at Graham Park, 70 percent of the students who participated in after-school tutorials successfully passed SOLs in two or more reporting categories.  This spring, the school celebrated its newly acquired status of full accreditation by the Virginia Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.  The Mathematics and Science Specialty Program, established in 1999, is at full capacity and is receiving high marks from both students and parents.  Computer Lab nights are held twice a week.

 In addition to improving students’ grade performance, Ms. Darlington also focuses on improving character.  She implemented the school-wide Bully Free/ Harassment Policy and Pledge.  Guest speakers were invited to discuss bullying and harassment.  Author Dave Pelzer spoke to students on his personal story of abuse, bullying and survival.  Also invited to speak was author Sharon Flake who discussed the main character of her book, a black middle school girl who experienced harassment.  Character in Action cards are used to reward students who demonstrate or improve life skills.  The students’ good choices are recognized during the daily announcements and they are also entered into a weekly gift certificate/food prize drawing.  Diversity is colorfully displayed in the International Café where flags representing the birth countries of the student and staff population hang from the walls. 

Graham Park has eliminated in-school suspension and instituted evening school and extended days as an alternative to Out-of-School-Suspension.  The development of the Path- finders Alternative Program has reduced the need to place students at an alternative school by keeping at-risk children at Graham Park, and a Stop and Drop It Call to parents, a dispute resolution phone call, has been instituted.  This contributed to a fifty percent reduction in disciplinary referrals.  Ms. Darlington established “100 Kids Making a Difference”, an after school program in which students work towards improving their school and community.  She works with local area communities to create a positive school environment.  Families are invited to monthly family-friendly parent education seminars where free babysitting and dinner are provided.
Ms. Darlington listens to and supports her staff, always looking for ways for them to grow and develop.  Together they established a planning conference form unique to the school that has become part of the school’s Consistent Standards.  She established a master schedule that gave team teachers a common planning time.  New teachers are assisted in their lesson planning by Ms. Darlington who even offers to meet with them on weekends.  Her nominators say that she believes that no hurdle is too great.  She always seeks ways to help others make life more bearable.  

Since Ms. Darlington became Principal and tamed the Graham Park Lions, a positive self-image and perception has developed at Graham Park.  Students are now proud of their school.  This change could not have occurred without the leadership skills of Rae Darlington.  Graham Park is 54 percent minority, 33 percent free or reduced lunch and has a 28 percent mobility rate.  A two and a half year school-wide renovation and completion of a four-room addition was accomplished without interrupting or compromising instruction time.  Ms. Darlington maintains an active and visual classroom presence, confers with parents, monitors and assesses school programs and operations, all done with compassion and encouragement. 

A parent of a former student said, “[Rae Darlington] is the epitome of what a principal should be. She projects a positive attitude 110 percent of the time.  She leads by example.  She asks nothing of her staff and students that she would not do herself.  She leads with her heart and head and is not afraid of a challenge.  Her name says it all: ‘Ray of Light’ shining out for everyone.” 

Ms. Darlington received an Administrative Endorsement from George Mason University and a M.A.T. in Speech Communications and Theatre from the University of South Carolina.  She earned a B.S. in Speech Communication and Theatre from Hampton University.  She began working in Prince William County in 1990 teaching language arts at Beville Middle School and has served in various positions as a program development/national education forums TV facilitator, instructional support team member, summer school principal and acting assistant principal at Beville Middle School and as an assistant principal at Stonewall Jackson High School.