2026-2027, VPA School Leaders of the Year Awards Announcement

VPA School Leaders of the Year Awards Announcement:

The Vermont Principals’ Association (VPA) is pleased to announce the 2026-2027 School Leaders of the Year recipients. These leaders will be honored at the VPA Leadership Academy awards banquet on August 5, 2026.vThe honorees were selected by the VPA Executive Council from written submissions to the VPA.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals Vermont Assistant Principal of the Year is Karyn Stannard . Ms. Stannard is the Assistant Principal at Mill River Union High School in North Clarendon.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals Vermont High School Principal of the Year is  Jason Gingold. Mr. Gingold is the principal of Montpelier High School.

The Robert F. Pierce Vermont High School Principal of the Year is Michael Ruppel.  Mr.Ruppel is the principal of Otter Valley Union Middle High School in Brandon.

The National Association of Elementary School Principals Vermont Elementary School Principal of the Year is Thomas Walsh. Mr. Walsh is the elementary principal at Bellows Free Academy, Fairfax.

The Henry Giaguque Vermont Elementary Principal of the Year is Vernita Vallez . Ms. Vallez is the principal of Morristown Elementary in Morrisville.

The Vermont Career Center Director of the Year is Nancy Wiese. Ms. Wiese is the Director of the Windham Regional Career Center in Brattleboro. Please join us in congratulating all of these outstanding school leaders!