A Bentonville educator is one of the state's newest master principals.
Jeff Wasem and Kelli Martin were recognized at Thursday's state Board of Education meeting for achieving the master principal designation, according to a news release.
Wasem is principal of Bentonville's Creekside Middle School. Martin is principal of Greenbrier Middle School.
Principals earn master status by completing three years of rigorous professional development plus a year of performance evaluations.
The master principal program, authorized by the Legislature in 2003, is run by the Arkansas Leadership Academy, based in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas. Thirty-five people have earned the designation.
Wasem was principal of Bentonville's Old High Middle School for more than four years. The school this year was named a Diamond School to Watch based in part on its academic excellence.
Wasem assumed the Creekside principal's job in February. Creekside is under construction and scheduled to open in the fall.
Master principals receive a $9,000-per-year bonus for five years upon earning the designation. They are eligible for an additional $25,000 per year for five years if they are selected to serve at a low-performing school.
The Bentonville School District has three other master principals: Tanya Sharp, Cindy Dewey and Lisa St. John.
NW News on 04/14/2017