Richwoods High School principal named 2019 Administrator of the Year
April 5, 2019
TOP ADMINISTRATOR: Principal Brett Elliott and students from the Richwoods High School broadcasting, newspaper and yearbook programs celebrate Mr. Elliott’s selection as the IJEA’s 2019 Administrator of the Year. (Photo by Dr. Dan Kerns)
Congratulations to Brett Elliott, principal of Richwoods High School in Peoria, who was chosen 2019 Administrator of the Year by the Illinois Journalism Education Association.
The students from the Richwoods broadcasting program, the Shield newspaper and the Excalibur yearbook presented his award in a surprise presentation Thursday, April 4.
Mr. Elliott will receive his award at a luncheon in June at the Illinois Press Association headquarters in Springfield.
Since 1995, the IJEA has honored administrators who demonstrate a commitment to scholastic journalism and a free press, who recognize outstanding performance in student media, and who cultivate and maintain positive working relations with student staffs and their advisers.
The IJEA Awards Committee noted of Mr. Elliott: “He believes in students and student success. He provides a nurturing environment for student growth, for all students, in all endeavors from academics and athletics to extracurricular activities. He allows the print and broadcast students the freedom, with responsibility, to be the best that they can be.”
Dr. Dan Kerns, Richwoods media adviser, wrote in his nomination letter that Mr. Elliott “gets it!”
As Dr. Kerns put it, the Richwoods principal “is like a snow plow that clears the pathway, but it is up to the students and faculty to take advantage of the opportunities provided. Our print and broadcast students have, and our school is better as a result.”
For a list of previous Administrator of the Year winners, please click here.