Congratulations to Julie Scott, principal of R.L. Wright Elementary School, Sedgwick USD 439. On Wednesday, Oct. 19, Scott was announced as one of nine recipients of the Terrell H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership for 2022.  

All nine school leaders from the 2022 cohort of National Blue Ribbon Schools will be honored during the National Blue Ribbon Schools awards ceremony Nov. 3 in Washington, D.C. 

The award is named for the second U.S. secretary of education, Terrel H. Bell. The award honors school leaders who are committed to education as a powerful and liberating force in people's lives, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The award is part of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Principals are nominated by their school communities during the final stages of the National Blue Ribbon Schools application process. 

KSDE wants to congratulate the other recipients, too. They are Brigett Stewart, Piedmont, Alabama; Miguel Marco, Cerritos, California; Denise Aloma, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Linda Bevil, Munster, Indiana; Catherine Bricelj, Lafayette, Louisiana; James Sonju, Rochester, Minnesota; Ryan Ambrose, Checotah, Oklahoma; and Mahri Aste, Fairfax, Virginia. 

"In her tenure of four years, Principal Julie Scott has been transformational to R.L. Wright Elementary School," the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, U.S. Department of Education, wrote on its website. "She has been a breath of fresh and innovative air. Her vison has brought staff together to better serve students and create a positive learning environment that fosters each student’s achievement." 

To read more about Scott and the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, visit https://nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/julie-scott-r-l.../.