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Principals choose Pierce
West Field educator earns state award
EDMOND — West Field Elementary Principal Joe Pierce has had quite a year. In addition to adopting a baby from China and opening a new school, he recently added Oklahoma Elementary School Principal of the Year to his list of achievements.
“It’s really humbling for me because I represent all the principals in the state,” Pierce said.
Pierce started working for Edmond Public Schools as a teacher at Sequoyah Middle School in 1989. He went on to act as the assistant principal at Washington Irving Elementary and Central Middle School. Before West Field opened its doors, Pierce spent nine years as the head principal at Orvis Risner Elementary.
He was named principal of West Field in January 2006. Pierce said he spent last summer opening the building and hiring faculty.
Someone nominated Pierce for the District Elementary School Principal of the Year, which he won. At a mid-winter conference, he was named as one of three finalists for the state award.
A panel of former distinguished principal winners came to West Field to interview Pierce, parents and teachers about his accomplishments.
“Dr. Pierce is an excellent role model for the principals in Oklahoma,” stated Christi Roach, executive director of the Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principals. “He has a clear understanding of student achievement, the process required to ensure overall achievement, and the personnel required to have an effective school.”
Pierce said the panel referred to him as a “learning leader.”
“We all learn,” he said. “It’s not just kids.”
He said he focused on three main goals this year with students and teachers. The first goal was breaking the staff up into professional learning communities that could meet every week to share ideas to improve curriculum.
The second goal focuses on strong technology. Pierce said when he ordered supplies last summer he didn’t buy any maps because all the teachers have a projector that can project Internet maps onto their walls. Many teachers and even some students have started designing Power Point presentations.
The last goal is to excel as a Great Expectations School, where teachers focus on the learning climate and the how of teaching. One way West Field Elementary does this is by encouraging students to answer questions in complete sentences.
Through leading the new school and adopting Clara, a baby from China, Pierce said he has learned patience.
“The adoption process was a lot longer than we expected,” he said. “However, she’s been a good addition to our family.”
The principal will attend the National Elementary School Principal of the Year competition next fall in Washington, D.C.
“It’s been a very good year,” Pierce said.
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