TERRE HAUTE — As the new president of the National Association of Elementary School Principals, Diane Cargile is in a position to influence national education policy.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said the Rio Grande Elementary principal, who is taking a leave of absence as the school’s principal for the 2009-2010 school year.
Serving as NAESP’s national president is a full-time job and more, she said.
The organization serves and advocates on behalf of elementary and middle school principals. It has about 25,000 members.
“This is a very challenging time for public education as well as a very exciting time to be in public education,” said Cargile, who will help serve as a “voice” for principals.
She said she is humbled to represent elementary and middle school principals and remains amazed by their passion and leadership.
Cargile, 61, met Secretary of Education Arne Duncan during a national elementary and secondary principals leadership conference this month. In April, she introduced Colin Powell at a national convention.
Top priorities for NAESP include early childhood education, full-day kindergarten and No Child Left Behind. Among the changes the organization would like to see in No Child Left Behind are use of multiple assessments to measure student progress, not just one high-stakes test.
Also, testing for special education students and English as a Second Language students should be realistic and factor in their needs and abilities, she said.
Duncan told the education leaders that he has heard their concerns about No Child Left Behind, according to Cargile.
He also talked about Race to the Top stimulus funding. States and school districts soon will be able to compete for the federal money, which is aimed at reform and improved student achievement.
According to Cargile, the education secretary’s emphasis is not so much on charter schools as it is on innovation. “He was not endorsing charter schools for the sake of charter schools,” she said.
Charter schools can be a way to achieve innovation and improvement, but they also must be accountable, Duncan told the education leaders.
He also said that Race to the Top can provide incentives for talented teachers to work in challenging environments, whether urban or rural, Cargile said.
She planned to participate in a Race to the Top “Webinar” Monday afternoon. The U.S. Education Department is giving NAESP an opportunity to weigh in on the education stimulus funds.
Cargile has been a member of NAESP since 1987 and has served in various leadership roles in that organization and in several others.
She is only the second NAESP president since 1932 to come from Indiana.
As a Vigo County principal, she hopes her national role will help bring prominence to her school district. “It’s such great publicity for our area,” she said.
Cargile anticipates much travel between Terre Haute and the Washington, D.C. area, where the organization has its headquarters.
During her tenure as president, she also hopes to visit and showcase schools that have strong programs in early childhood education, principal staff development and student literacy. Those programs would be highlighted on an NAESP Web site.
The organization has budget constraints, but she hopes to go to strategic locations throughout the country — north, south, east and west— to find programs that are the best of the best.
Cargile believes her leadership experiences as well as her many years as an educator have helped prepare her for her new duties. She has been an educator in urban and rural areas in Indiana as well as a highly diverse area in Tacoma, Wash.
Serving as NAESP president “is a journey I will always remember,” she said.
Cargile has been the principal of Rio Grande Elementary since 2001. During her leave of absence, Susan Cobb will serve as interim principal.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Diane Cargile takes ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ national position
Rio Grande Elementary principal becomes president of National Association
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