Blind Brook-Rye Schools Spotlights Principals During National Month

RYE BROOK, NY (October 15, 2025) — The Blind Brook-Rye Union Free School District is marking National Principals Month by honoring its administrative leaders for their daily impact on students and staff.

Highlighted are Principal Tracy Taylor and Assistant Principal Teresa Letizia from BMPRSS; Principal Seth Horowitz and Assistant Principal Karen Chalif from BBMS; and Principal Mark Greenwald and Assistant Principal James Quigley from BBHS.

History of National Principals Month

National Principals Month is an annual observance held every October to recognize and celebrate the essential role that school principals play in the U.S. education system. It honors their dedication, leadership, and impact on students, teachers, families, and communities by spotlighting their accomplishments and advocating for the resources they need to succeed.

The observance was officially established in 2009, when a Congressional resolution first recognized the month of October as National Principals Month. This marked the beginning of a formal nationwide effort to acknowledge principals’ hard work and transformative influence in schools.

National Principals Month originated as a collaborative initiative by three major professional organizations: the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), and the American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA). These groups founded the month to highlight principals’ year-round contributions and to foster appreciation through events, awards, thank-you messages, and policy advocacy.

Since 2009, the observance has been supported by annual bipartisan Congressional resolutions in both the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as proclamations from numerous states and local communities. For example, in 2012, Senate Resolution 552, introduced by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) and cosponsored by a bipartisan group of senators, reaffirmed the month’s importance, while House Resolution 781, led by Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA), echoed the sentiment. These resolutions emphasize principals as key drivers of student success, academic tone-setting, and school improvement.

Over the years, National Principals Month has evolved into a platform not only for celebration but also for addressing challenges like principal retention, mental health support, and federal funding for K-12 education. 35 Schools and districts often mark the occasion with special events, such as assemblies, personalized notes, and community shout-outs, reinforcing the idea that principals are “among the hardest working, yet often least recognized individuals in education.”

This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.