Two Fulton principals were surprised this week with recognition from their fellow principals in the region.
The district announced on Facebook on Tuesday that the Northeast Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals has named Fulton High School Principal Kati Boland as Emerging Principal of the Year and Fulton Middle School Principal Beth Houf as Middle School Principal of the Year.
"We're pretty proud of that fact," Superintendent Jacque Cowherd said. "Those ladies have worked hard for that kind of recognition and I think it's fairly significant to be recognized by your peers."
Boland, who previously served as an assistant principal at FHS and a teacher at FMS, took on the role of high school principal this summer.
"There's no way I could ever get that acknowledgment without the district I work for," Boland said. "I could not be the kind of leader I am without the people I work with and the students we serve."
Boland was surprised to hear the news that she had been selected - with everything going with the school shutdown, the association's tradition of honoring principals voted on by their peers wasn't on her radar.
"I noticed my name was on the ballot, but didn't really think much of it," Boland said.
So she didn't expect it when Heather Helsel, principal of South Callaway High School and NEMoASSP secretary and treasurer, showed up at FHS with balloons.
Boland said her familiarity with the school helped her get started in the role of principal.
"It was good to be able to already have this relationship established, not only with staff and the district, but also with the families," Boland said.
That her first year as principal would be interrupted by a global pandemic was unexpected, but despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, Boland believes the high school has progressed over the past year.
"Any first year principal is an interesting journey - she's done a remarkable job at formulating goals with the staff, working with them, jointly formulating strategies so that every child has a chance to succeed," Cowherd said.
Houf was also surprised with balloons. Houf has been principal at FMS since 2015 and was named Principal of the Year by education publication Education Dive last year.
"Beth is a dynamic administrator - she's engaged," Cowherd said. "I tease her about being the senior administrator in the district."
Before moving to FMS, she was principal of McIntire Elementary School and a teacher at Bartley Elementary School.
"I continue to be proud of our kids number one and our families and our staff," Houf said. "I think that's where I get so much of my energy."
Finishing off the year physically distant from the students has been hard for Houf.
"I'm not a person that leads well from behind a computer screen - I'm a person who needs to do," Houf said. "Not being around kids, not being around staff has been excruciating."
One of her goals has been to build a strong school culture and to provide for the whole child and their mental needs, as well as academic. This is something she sees as particularly important now.
"We're going through trauma together - our normal is no longer," Houf said. "How do we make sure that we're OK, that we actually can get back in the flow? Relationships always have to come first. Our kids need to feel safe."
Cowherd said that though he is impressed by Boland and Houf during normal circumstances, they've been especially essential during the crisis caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.
"Both of these ladies are instrumental in this COVID-19 shutdown," Cowherd said.
Cowherd said Boland and Houf have made sure every student has access food and internet by delivering grab-and-go lunches and internet hotspots.
"They've stepped up to define what we need to do on a daily basis," Cowherd said. "Both in their buildings led the charge that kids will be contacted every week by teachers."