Date:  May 14, 2003
Contact: Irene Cromer
(703) 791-8720

The Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (VASSP) has named a Prince William County Public Schools principal as Outstanding Middle School Principal of Virginia.  Rae Darlington, Principal of Graham Park Middle School in Triangle, was selected for the award based on her leadership, creativity, and commitment to student academic achievement. 
As a result of this honor, Darlington becomes eligible to be considered for the National Association’s award program as the NASSP/MetLife 2003 National Middle School Principal of the Year.  The National Middle School Principal of the Year will be selected from the state middle level honorees and will be announced in October 2003.  Darlington will receive the state award at the annual Virginia Middle and High School Principals Conference & Exposition in Williamsburg, June 22-25, 2003.  The state conference is sponsored jointly by VASSP and the Virginia Department of Education.

VASSP Executive Director Dr. Randy D. Barrack said, “Ms. Darlington was the unanimous choice of the Association’s principal’s award nominating committee. She is being honored for having demonstrated excellence in all areas of the selection criteria.”

“Rae Darlington is an exceptional principal, and well deserving of this award.  She is innovative and inspires those around her to perform at the highest level,” said Edward L. Kelly, Superintendent of Schools for Prince William County.

 During her five years as Principal of Graham Park Middle School, Darlington has implemented programs to increase student success and to improve discipline.  She also established a master schedule to give team teachers a common planning time.  She assists new teachers in lesson planning, maintains an active and visual classroom presence, confers with parents, and monitors and assesses school programs and operations.

A daily morning news show produced by Graham Park Middle School students includes tips on how to improve student performance.  After-school tutorials helped students pass Standards of Learning tests, with the result that the school achieved full accreditation by the Virginia Department of Education.  Discipline referrals dropped fifty percent after Darlington eliminated in-school suspension and instituted evening school and extended days as an alternative to Out-of-School-Suspension.  An in-school alternative program reduces the need to place students at a district alternative school.  School-sponsored community service projects bring together students and families, and families are invited to parent education seminars where free babysitting and dinner are provided.

In her 13 years with Prince William County Public Schools, Darlington has been a language arts teacher and high school and middle school assistant principal.  She has also served as a program development consultant and facilitator for national education forums on television.

Darlington received an Administrative Endorsement from George Mason University and an 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.  

In December 2002, Darlington received The Washington Post’s Distinguished Educational Leadership Award and was named Principal of the Year for Prince William County Public Schools.