Proud Principals Podcast with Tony Cattani

Terence Johnson is an assistant principal at Cumberland Regional High School District, New Jersey. Terence Johnson -  New Jersey State Assistant Principal of the Year for 2019 by the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA)/National Association of Secondary School Principals.   Terence shares how his work with the CRHS Freshman Seminar/Senior Mentoring program, along with the posi...

Rebecca Belkota is the 2025  New York Middle School Principal of the Year   Rebecca Belkota is the secondary principal of Perry Junior Senior High School in Perry, NY. She has cultivated a school culture rooted in strong relationships, with a focus on mental health and social-emotional learning. She introduced a structured process for data review and established an MTSS team that collaborates week...

After 29 years in public education, including 18 years as a school leader, Todd left his dream job.  As a high school principal, in the neighborhood where he lived, and the high school for all five of his children, Todd stepped away in 2025. Todd Bloomer is currently the Director of School Leadership with the Archdiocese of San Antonio. In this new role, Todd coaches and empowers principals.  Todd...

Jerry Mack is the 2025 Nebraska Secondary Principal of the Year. Jerry Mack has served as the principal of Chadron High School in Chadron, NE, for 14 years. Under his leadership, the rural school has often been recognized as one of the top schools in the state according to U.S. News & World Report and Niche.com. He has emphasized restorative practices, supported the integration of technology i...

Erica Schnee is the 2025 Montana Secondary Principal of the Year.  Erica Schnee has been the principal of Gallatin High School in Bozeman, MT, since it opened in 2020. Previously, she was the assistant principal and a government and economics teacher. An inspirational and dedicated leader who has prioritized community, culture, and student well-being, she has overseen exponential growth in the com...

Christian Ledesma is the 2025 Minnesota Principal of the Year Christian Ledesma is the principal of Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, where he leads with a strong focus on safety, equity, and academic excellence. Returning after the pandemic, he addressed students’ physical and emotional well-being through safety campaigns, increased supervision, and student-led cultural celebrations. Under hi...

Kelly Messmer - South Dakota's 2025 Secondary Principal of the Year Kelly Messmer is a dedicated principal in rural South Dakota who is determined to provide his ranching-country students with opportunities that reach far beyond the traditional classroom. Recognizing the challenges of limited access in a rural community, he has brought career education directly to his school through a mobile exper...

State Principal of the Year Series - Nevada Ryan Cordia - 2025 Nevada Principal of the Year Northeast Career & Technical Academy Ryan Cordia is in his second year as the inaugural principal of Northeast Career and Technical Academy in North Las Vegas, NV. The school is the first in state to implement in-person, self-paced, mastery blended learning, which breaks away from the traditional Carneg...

Mark Andresen is the 2025 North Dakota Secondary School Principal of the Year. Mark is the principal of Mandan High School in Mandan, ND. Previously, he was a science teacher and girls’ basketball coach. In his 21 years as principal of Mandan, he has worked diligently to improve test scores, graduation rates, and dual credit opportunities, as well as to support and implement numerous programs that...

Terita Walker - 2025 Colorado State Principal of the Year and NASSP National Principal of the Year Finalist.  Terita Walker has served as the principal of East High School in Denver, CO, for four years. She has transformed the school into a model of inclusivity, academic excellence, and student empowerment. Through intentional leadership and a deep commitment to equity, she has fostered a culture...

Spencer Long is the 2025 Tennessee Secondary Principal of the Year. Spencer Long is the executive principal of Halls High School in Halls Crossroads, TN Knox County. A proud alumnus of Halls, he began his career at Halls as a science teacher and assistant football and baseball coach. He moved into administration with roles as an athletic director and assistant principal. Under his leadership, Hall...

Pierre Orbe - New York Secondary Principal of the Year - 2025 DeWitt Clinton High School New York City Pierre Orbe is the principal of DeWitt Clinton High School in Bronx, NY. Previously, he was a science teacher and an assistant principal. He leads one of the nation’s most historic schools—alma mater to icons like Stan Lee, Ralph Lauren, and James Baldwin. Under his leadership, DeWitt Clinton’s g...

Proud principal Laura Tobias of State College Area High School, Pennsylvania is an amazing school leader. Laura has created a special place in the shadows of Happy Valley. Her daily positive messages, academic interventions, and learning centers are just the tip of this inspiring conversation.  If you are looking to model your school after a dynamic school leader, look no farther or just listen to...

Dr. Jonathon Guthrie, Proud Principal of Bentonville West High School, Arkansas shares how he and his team opened Bentonville West, which just completed it's 9th year. As part of the State POY Series - Jonathon Guthrie is the Arkansas Principal of the year - 2025.  He led his team to set the culture, hiring the staff, ordering every desk, chair and trash can! Bentonville West High School has seen...

Miguel Salazar is the principal of Sundown Middle School in Sundown, TX. Previously he was a math teacher, coach, assistant principal, and high school principal. He is dedicated to fostering positive school cultures, promoting equity, and ensuring student success. His leadership philosophy is rooted in the belief that a thriving educational community is built upon shared accountability, high stand...

State Principal of the Year Series - Michigan's Adam Lancto Adam Lancto is the principal of Grandville High School in Grandville, MI and the 2025 Michigan Secondary Principal of the Year.  Previously, he served as assistant principal. A visible leader who consistently attends student and community events, he championed students by creating programs such as the Student Voice Committee to help stude...

Kansas' 2025 Principal of the year, Kelly Whittaker has served as the principal of Ottawa High School in Ottawa, KS, since 2018. Previously, she served as an assistant principal of Shawnee Heights High School and Goshen High School in Indiana. She taught special education at the elementary and middle school levels before transitioning to a career as an administrator. Under her leadership, Ottawa’s...

Jason Di Giulio, EdD, is the principal of Hazen Union School in Hardwick, VT. He is known for his transformational leadership, particularly in advancing the community schools model in rural Vermont. Under his guidance, Hazen Union has expanded access to mental health services, family engagement programs, and strategic partnerships with local organizations and higher education institutions. Di Giul...

Damon C. Lewis, EdD , is the principal of Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy in Norwalk, CT. Previously, he was the assistant principal. Under his leadership, Ponus Ridge, a 6–8 middle school, reduced chronic absenteeism from 31% to 8% in one year. His school has increased the number of minority students in the gifted and talented program, and the number of female students in accelerated math. He has champ...

2025 Wyoming Principal of the Year, Chase Christensen shares how he led a state initiative to provide an apprenticeship for aspiring administrators and created  work based opportunities for his seniors.  Chase serves as the state coordinator for the Wyoming Association of Secondary School Principals, championing public education and leadership development. Recently, he initiated a statewide appren...

Efa Huckaby, the 2025 California Principal of the Year from Liberty High School in Brentwood, CA shares the details of his how he and his school community defined and implemented the expectations of what it means to be a Liberty High School Warrior. This includes their Welcome Week activities.  Instagram - @efahuckaby @Libertyhighofficial

Texas Principal of the Year, Dr. Winston McCowan Jr. of Chisholm Trail High School, Fort Worth, Texas shares how his  student "Ranger Voice" committee enhanced their school community. This campus wide student led committee consists of students from all athletic teams, clubs, and organizations to represent student voice.  Contact Dr. McCowan Jr. for more information Email - wmccowan@ems-isd.net X/T...

Alabama's 2025 Principal of the Year, Dr. Matt Epps of Career Technical School in Columbiana, Alabama shares his strategies of personalizing a students' educational journey through student voice and leadership. The personal inventory assessment was intentional to gain insight to the students' perception of their skill sets and the school's role in helping them better achieve their goals. The resul...

In this inspiring episode of the Proud Principals Podcast, we sit down with Principal Jen Cimaglia, from Hardyston Elementary, Franklin, NJ who saw a critical learning gap in her school and took bold, informed action to close it. Jen shares the story behind her decision to implement the Wilson Reading System — a structured literacy program designed to support students with language-based learning...

Proud Principal Josh Tovar exudes energy and pride for his students and staff of Memorial Pathway Academy in Garland, Texas. He celebrates their success every day in every way. This positive approach creates a culture of ALL stakeholders being seen and celebrated for their daily work.  We all want to promote student and staff success. Listen to how Josh Tovar does it like no other we have heard on...