NEW ROCHELLE, NY — College of New Rochelle graduate Lisa A. Meade, who is principal at Corinth Middle School in upstate New York, has been named 2015 New York State Middle School Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS). This award is given annually to a member of SAANYS and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) to recognize outstanding middle level principals who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students and demonstrating exemplary contributions to the profession.
Diane Quandt, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Education at The College of New Rochelle, describes Meade as “a talented, highly engaged student who was well-respected by her peers. She especially loved the field of special education and couldn’t wait to get out into the real world!” Quandt added, “I’m so proud of her outstanding accomplishments in the field of public education.”
Meade earned a bachelor’s degree in English from The College of New Rochelle in 1992 and completed the College’s Teacher Education Certification Program. She received her master’s degree from Norwich University of Vermont College in 1998, and through coursework at SUNY Plattsburgh she earned School Administrator/Supervisor Certification in 2004 and School District Administrator Certification in 2007.
“I believe my undergraduate program in education at The College of New Rochelle provided me with solid and diversified experiences in all kinds of school settings. Women role models, like Dr. Quandt and Dr. Kathryn Hathaway, taught me to be relentless about student advocacy. My formative years at The College of New Rochelle remain the foundation for me and my practice. I’m incredibly proud to be a CNR graduate,” said Meade.
She has been a member of the Corinth Central School District educational team since 2006 and an administrator at Corinth Middle School since 2012. During this time, Meade has been described as a transformational leader, creating a revitalized educational environment emphasizing collaboration, communication, high expectations, and respect for all. Meade is noted for leading her team through myriad changes and being “on the cutting edge” in using data to raise student achievement and implementing the common core.
“Mrs. Meade has caused a dramatic turnaround at the Corinth Middle School,” said special education teacher Terry Hoffman. “After experiencing Mrs. Meade’s non-stop energy and highly developed work ethic, staff members want to be a part of a team that is moving quickly in a positive direction.
Part of the revitalized environment at Corinth comes from Meade’s steadfast dedication to teachers and professional learning and development. Faculty meetings are no longer simply staff meetings, but mini learning sessions where teachers are expected to share and learn from one another. Always learning herself, Meade has also brought the growing national trend of maker spaces to Corinth – a place for students to get hands on with STEM concepts and experiments.
Meade is committed to enhancing learning opportunities beyond the school walls as well. An advocate for leadership development and collegial sharing, Meade has led popular book studies for her colleagues and has published and presented on the successes that Corinth has experienced with its Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program. In addition, she is a regular columnist for SAANYS’ Vanguard magazine and has worked with colleagues to bring EdCampUNY to upstate New York educators.
Meade will be honored for her accomplishments at an awards ceremony on May 8, 2015 at the Desmond Hotel in Albany, New York.