SPRINGDALE — Michael Shepherd, an assistant principal at Har-Ber High School, was named the Assistant Principal of the Year on Saturday by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
He received the award, sponsored by the association and Virco Inc., at a conference in San Francisco.
“First of all, I’m amazed,” he said. “It’s a great thing for Arkansas, a great thing for Springdale.”
Shepherd was one of three finalists for the award. The others were Kirsten Clemons, of Blue Springs, Mo., and Daniel Richards, of Belmont, Mass., according to the association’s website.
Each finalist receives $1,500, and Shepherd will get $5,000. The money can be spent on professional development or a school improvement project.
It’s exciting for a local administrator to receive recognition on a national level, said Danny Dotson, Springdale School Board president.
“It’s just a great example of the way we try to do things right and get the best and brightest,” he said.
The association cited Shepherd’s work with Advanced Placement programs as one of his accomplishments.
Students taking the Advanced Placement tests grew from 298 in 2007 to 663 in 2010. He also set up a program with the University of Central Arkansas where students could earn college credit for completing some classes.
This is Shepherd’s fourth year in the position. He previously worked a year as an assistant principal at Central Junior High School.
“It’s absolutely surreal to represent assistant principals across the nation. It’s just been an incredible honor,” he said.
Shepherd, a Pine Bluff native, taught social studies before moving into administration.