December 13, 2022 |
The Rawlins Middle School assistant principal has been recognized by the state with a prestigious education award.
The Wyoming Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals has chosen Jacinda Waldrip, to receive their 2023 National Outstanding Assistant Principal Award. Waldrip said Principal Ryan Searle and Fundamental Skills Coordinator Ryan Puckett nominated her for the award.
Pictured above: Jacinda Waldrip. Photo by Matthew Copeland/Bigfoot 99.
Assistant Principal Waldrip was presented with the WAEMSP award during a ceremony in the school gymnasium. Principal Searle managed to keep the presentation a secret. Waldrip said she had no idea she had won.
Waldrip said she was in a meeting off school grounds when she was called back to the school for an unspecified reason. When she arrived, a sign on the door directed her to go to the gym. A surprise awaited her there.
Kenny Jones is the executive director for the Wyoming Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals.
As well as a fancy plaque, Waldrip was given a water bottle and Bluetooth speaker as part of her Assistant Principal of the Year award. Waldrip said the WAEMSP has also offered to pay for her to attend a teaching conference in the nation’s capital.
Waldrip said she isn’t sure if she’ll be able to attend the conference.
Waldrip has been teaching in Carbon County for 17 years. For the last 5 years, she has been the Assistant Principal for Rawlins Middle School. During that time, school staff have worked to incorporate professional leaning community standards into the curriculum. Waldrip explained what is required to become a PLC school.
Assistant Principal Waldrip’s recognition by the WAEMSP isn’t the only thing happening at Rawlins Middle School. Each month, students participate in different Colt Learning Lab, or CLL, activities. CLL is a teaching program with a focus on personal development and community engagement. Last month, students collected canned good to donate to St. Vincent De Paul. Waldrip didn’t know the exact amount of food collected, but said it was the biggest haul yet.
For December, Rawlins Middle School students are selling paper light bulbs. Paper cutouts of Christmas lights may be purchased in someone’s name, as a way to honor that person. Waldrip explained the proceeds go to a good cause.
The students that sell the most paper light bulbs will personally choose what items they would like to donate using the money that was raised.
