WINDHAM – In a gymnasium packed with attentive third-graders, Windham Primary School’s Kristin Grant was honored last Friday as Maine’s elementary assistant principal of the year for 2012.

While the Maine Principals’ Association honors principals and assistant principals at the high school and middle school levels with similar awards, Grant, who grew up in Windham and attended the primary school, is the first to receive the assistant principal award at the elementary level.

Present at the awards ceremony last Friday at the primary school were local and state dignitaries, including the principals’ association executive director, Dick Durost, and his assistant, Mike Burnham. Also in attendance and speaking in praise of Grant were Windham Primary School Principal Kyle Rhoads, Windham High School Assistant Principal Kelli Deveaux, RSU 14 Windham-Raymond Superintendent Sandy Prince and RSU 14 School Board Chairman Mike Duffy, as well as Grant’s parents.

Grant was honored to receive the first-ever award and in her remarks turned attention away from herself and onto the students and staff, something she also did when Deveaux interviewed her during the nomination process, a point Deveaux shared with the assembly.

“When we interviewed her, she didn’t talk about all the amazing things I happen to know that she’s done,” Deveaux said. “She talked about the amazing staff at her school. She talked about the amazing kids at her school because she never wants to take credit for work she’s doing. But we know she’s done a fabulous job.”

While she has served as assistant principal for the last seven years at the primary school, Grant may be better known to Windham residents for her many years teaching physical education at Manchester Elementary School and across the district. In all, she’s worked in Windham schools for 25 years.

In announcing the award, the association said Grant was honored “based on her outstanding work that ensures success for all as a core belief of everything that she does. Her collaborative leadership style has allowed her to work closely with staff, students and parents to develop such programs as the Positive Behavior Supports Program and the ‘Let’s Go’ Program at the Windham Primary School. She was instrumental in transforming the role of educational technicians at the school to a role of interventionists, allowing them to work closely with those students that need assistance.”

Grant was proud and honored of the inaugural distinction. “It really is very special, and I’m proud of the people I work with most of all,” she said following last week’s ceremony. “I’m very lucky to be in Windham and know the families of the kids and the staff members here. It’s really fun, and it does feel like an extended family.”

The Maine Principals’ Association will honor Grant and other award winners at a conference and banquet held next spring.

Kristin Grant