SMS principal in the running for national honor

SANDPOINT — Kim Keaton better be brushing up on his version of, “I’d like to thank the Academy.”

The Sandpoint Middle School principal is a candidate for one of the highest honors in his profession. After winning the Idaho middle school Principal of the Year award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals in April, he’s heading to Washington, D.C., as a candidate for national middle school principal of the year.

“I guess I should be optimistic, but I’m not too worried about the outcome,” he said. “I’m sure there’s going to be some stiff competition.”

When it comes to awards, “it’s an honor just to be nominated” might be the prevailing cliché, but it’s an appropriate one for Keaton’s case. For one thing, he’s simply excited to be spending several days in Washington, D.C. For another, he credits his staff for helping him bring home the state-level award earlier this year. The combination of effective communication among staff members and a shared commitment to constant improvement impressed NASSP officials enough to consider Keaton for the honor. After a series of interviews in Boise, they selected him as Idaho’s middle school principal of the year.

“From my perspective, this is a feather in the cap for the entire middle school,” he said shortly after receiving the award.

Keaton’s whirlwind trip begins Wednesday when he catches a flight to the nation’s capital. After arrival, the first item on his agenda is a meeting with his fellow nominees, followed by a conference with senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Rep. Raul Labrador. The meeting with the congressmen will probably be a brief one, but it will be a valuable opportunity to discuss big issues like Common Core State Standards and testing practices, Keaton said.

Award nominees will get together once again Thursday evening for a reception. Keaton plans to meet as many of his colleagues as possible to share thoughts and strategies with one another. In fact, he said the most valuable things he might be bringing back with him are good ideas for school improvement — not an award.

While Friday begins with a brief presentations about each school, the nominees can then explore the capital on their own time. Keaton intends to honor his father, a World War II veteran, with a trip to the memorial.

The trip culminates in an black tie gala Friday.

According to Keaton, educator of the year awards are becoming something of a family tradition. Two of his brothers-in-law have taken home similar honors for teacher of the year and superintendent of the year.