Staff Celebrations
Nathan Hale principal receives Foster Award for outstanding leadership
Award includes $50,000 cash grant to school
The Alliance for Education and Seattle Public Schools announced that Nathan Hale High School principal Jill Hudson is the recipient of the Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence in recognition of her outstanding leadership.
Nathan Hale High School students and families joined representatives of the Alliance for Education and Seattle Public Schools to present Hudson the award at Nathan Hale on March 1. Hudson is the tenth recipient of the award, granted annually since 2000 by the Alliance for Education to an exceptional secondary school principal. The award includes a $50,000 cash grant to the school.
Award honors principal's commitment and effectiveness
The Foster Award honors Hudson’s commitment and effectiveness in improving student achievement by sustaining and even increasing most of the effective school indicators. Nathan Hale was the highest achieving high school within the District’s school segmentation report this year. As an advocate of inclusion practices, Hudson deserves recognition for Nathan Hale’s significant gains, in all areas tested, on the High School Proficiency Exam among students with disabilities. Most notable was science, with nearly 15 percent points gained from the previous year.
Hudson has provided valuable leadership in schoolwide and Districtwide initiatives, having led and facilitated regional meetings revolving around effective teaching. She has also facilitated Districtwide professional development activities centered on both quality teaching and social justice.
Hudson also demonstrates prudent and creative use of resources, as evidenced by the recently completed renovation of the Nathan Hale campus, and is known for her efforts to leverage all of her resources in support of student growth, teacher leadership, and equity issues.
Tom Foster, founder of the law firm Foster Pepper and a Seattle civic leader, was deeply committed to helping the Seattle community and was passionate about education issues. When he passed away in 1999 at the age of 84, community members established a fund with the Alliance in his honor to recognize and support secondary school principals.
To be eligible for the Thomas B. Foster award, candidates must serve a minimum of one entire school year in their buildings and be under contract for the subsequent year.
Committee considers many qualities
The selection committee, composed of representatives from the Foster family, the Alliance for Education, and Seattle Public Schools, considers:
• Principals’ commitment and effectiveness in improving student achievement (as measured by District performance measures)
• Leadership and teambuilding, as reflected in staff and student climate surveys
• Innovation in educational and administrative techniques
• Leadership participation in Schoolwide and Districtwide initiatives
• Prudent creative use of resources
Photo: Jill Hudson, middle, principal of Nathan Hale High School, receives a symbolic check March 1 for winning the Foster Award for Excellence. At far left is Sara Morris, president and CEO of the Alliance for Education, and far right is Judy Runstad, representing the Foster family.