Walkersville Elementary Principal Receives Award

Walkersville Elementary Principal Tess Blumenthal is Frederick County’s winner of the 2015 Distinguished Educational Leadership Award (DELA). The Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) selection committee chose Principal Blumenthal for her excellent leadership and strong commitment to creating an exceptional educational environment.

Many people–from PTA leaders to students, colleagues, supervisors and community members–wrote letters recommending that Blumenthal receive this year’s award. Here are some of the reasons they gave.

“Mrs. Blumenthal is a visionary leader who seeks to empower others and maximize their potential. She continually models a service-oriented approach with an impeccable work ethic.”—a colleague

Another appreciated the ways the principal provides opportunities for parents, staff and community members to intermingle, learn from and learn about each other. Under her tutelage, many teachers have moved on to leadership roles, said this colleague, adding that “Mrs. Blumenthal also helps to develop leadership skills in children. She initiated a service program where students adopted a cause and were taught how to promote their ideas in the community, raise awareness, and complete a project that made a difference locally or globally.”

As a leader, Blumenthal “promotes ingenuity and creativity by attempting new ideas herself and by encouraging students and staff to do likewise,” wrote a kindergarten teacher. Another teacher values the ways Principal Blumenthal “fosters cooperation and collaboration among teams rather than competition.”

FCPS elementary directors commended how Blumenthal has established “a culture of teamwork, collaboration, and high expectations for staff and student success. She is a partner with the entire school community and its stakeholders. Committed to the success of each child, Mrs. Blumenthal promotes purposeful learning designed to meet individual needs.”

A fifth grader shared this accolade from a student perspective: “Mrs. Blumenthal made me and my brother feel comfortable and welcome when we came to WES. She is always helping kids when they need it.”

The PTA president appreciates that “Mrs. Blumenthal always shares fresh ideas from meetings and seminars she attends and regularly reaches out to experts outside of our school to find the best way we can help support our students and community.”

Not only does she reach out for ideas, she also shares her expertise with others. Blumenthal has served as past president of the Maryland Association for Elementary School Principals, former board member of the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education, Inc., Race to the Top executive advisory committee member, elementary principal representative of the FCPS Education Reform Council, Frederick County representative of the Maryland Association for Elementary Principals, and a Principal Advisory Council member.

Starting her FCPS career teaching special education at Myersville Elementary in 1990, Blumenthal was promoted to assistant principal at Middletown Elementary in 1997. She was also assistant principal at Spring Ridge Elementary before promotion to principal at Lewistown Elementary, later serving as principal at Valley and now at Walkersville.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in special education from James Madison University, master’s in special education/inclusion from Johns Hopkins University and educational leadership certificate from Hood College.

Blumenthal will receive honors with 19 other metropolitan-area recipients during a May 5 awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The Washington Post established DELA in 1987 to honor principals who go beyond the daily responsibilities of their position. The goal is to encourage excellence in school leadership and to contribute to the improvement of education in the Washington metropolitan area.