Mrs. Marla Turpin of Roopville  Elementary School (RES), has been named the National Outstanding Assistant Principal by the Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals (GAESP) for the 2019-2020 school year. Mrs. Turpin was awarded a check for $500 through the sponsorship of national K-12 publisher Mentoring Minds, a partner of GAESP. She will also be honored at the Georgia Elementary Principals Fall Conference in October.
 
“Mrs. Turpin’s commitment to excellence is reflected in programs designed to meet the academic and social needs of all children and the establishment of community ties with parents and local business organizations,” said Hal Beaver, GAESP Executive Director. “She continually ‘raises the bar’ academically, working with teachers, staff, and students. And, she is constantly working towards bridging the gap between school and community. These relationships are vital for student success.”
 
Beaver added, “Assistant principals commit their lives to educational excellence and serving children. They are uniquely dedicated individuals who rarely receive the kind of public recognition they deserve.”
 
Mrs. Turpin has been assistant principal of RES for the past two years and, prior to joining the staff at RES, she served as assistant principal at Bay Springs Middle School. “She has a wealth of knowledge in elementary education that has benefited our students and teachers alike. Mrs. Turpin is a very organized leader who effectively and efficiently leads teachers through academics, data, and planning,” stated Kelly Edwards, who served as principal of RES last year.
 
“Mrs. Turpin is a premier communicator and does a great job of building relationships based on trust. Through her outstanding engagement skills, she has helped increase the performance of her assigned schools,” stated Scott Cowart, Superintendent of Carroll County School System.
 
“Mrs. Turpin has met the challenges at her school head on, providing innovative solutions that have not only had a positive impact on her students, but also on the community around them, making her a true trailblazer,” said Shad Madsen, CEO of Mentoring Minds.

Ms. Turpin earned her BS degree in Early Childhood Education form the University of Georgia and her master’s degree from Jacksonville State University. She is currently pursuing her doctorate degree.

About the National Outstanding Assistant Principals Program, sponsored by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)

The National Distinguished Principals program honors outstanding elementary and middle-level administrators who ensure America’s children acquire a sound foundation for lifelong learning and achievement. Established in 1984, the program recognizes and celebrates principals who set high standards for instruction, student achievement, character, and climate for the students, families, and staffs in their learning communities. The program is based on three fundamental ideas:
 
·       Children’s attitudes towards learning and their perceptions of themselves as lifelong learners are established in the beginning school years.

·       The scope and quality of children’s educational experiences are determined primarily by the school principal, who establishes, through the important work of teachers and the support of caring parents, the character of a particular school’s program.
 
·       The dedication and enthusiasm of the outstanding principals who guide children’s early education experiences should be acknowledged to both show appreciation for their work as well as to allow them to serve as models for others in the field.
 
About Mentoring Minds, the Critical Thinking for Life company

Mentoring Minds is a national K-12 publisher with a mission to put critical thinking at the center of the classroom in order to support student achievement and empower educators to teach to higher standards. Mentoring Minds’ award-winning, research-based resources are designed to be flexible for classroom needs, supporting technology integration and standards mastery for Math, ELA and Science. Mentoring Minds’ commitment to education extends beyond the classroom, as well; the company proudly sponsors groundbreaking administrators across the nation and supports community-based education initiatives through MindShare, an employee-driven grant program. For more information, call 800-585-5258 or visit mentoringminds.com.