Park Elementary School Principal Sandy Blondell has been named a recipient of the Distinguished Educational Leader Award (DELA) by The Washington Post. Blondell is one of 20 principals representing Washington-area school districts to receive the award.
The DELA recognizes “those principals who go beyond the day-to-day demands of their position to create an exceptional educational environment.” From managing a stressful student redistricting situation to ensuring that advanced technology is available to students, Blondell assumed the principal position at Park in 2012 and has overseen the integration of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) instruction throughout all grades.
“Sandy is a passionate and committed leader who is able to get students, teachers, staff, and parents to rally around a vision of excellence,” said Regional Assistant Superintendent Kate Gilbert, who oversees all of the schools in the North County Cluster, including Park. “She has had – and continues to have – an incredibly positive impact on the school and its community.”
Blondell has spent 35 years in Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Before becoming principal at Park, she was assistant principal at Park and Hilltop elementary schools, and taught at Hilltop Elementary, the Mary Moss Academy, and Old Mill High School.
“I am so fortunate to be able to walk into a school where everyone works together to help every one of our children succeed,” Blondell said. “I am thrilled and humbled by this recognition, but it is truly a reflection of what we as a team do for our children every day.”
Eight of those honored by the newspaper are from Maryland schools.