Principal Contest Recognizes Young Artists
- (Cited from a news release from COE)

More than 30 students from schools across the Brazos Valley have been
recognized for their artistic skills in the “Draw Your School
Principal” contest. Student winners were honored at an awards
ceremony during the 23rd Annual Administrative Leadership Institute
at Texas A&M University (ALI).

One of the students, Garrison Gibson, fourth grader at Southwood
Valley Elementary in College Station, drew a picture of his
principal, Starlet Bell, with the accompanying caption: “Ms. Bell
leads my school and does the right thing,” Gibson said. “She keeps it
safe by having safe rules, a good playground and great teachers.”
Students and principals alike were excited to see their artwork
displayed in the foyer of the Annenberg Center in the George Bush
Presidential Library, noted an ALI representative.
David Ogden, principal of Mary Branch Elementary in Bryan, said he
was impressed with the students’ intensity and competitiveness in the
drawing contest.

“It’s not often I get a portrait made,” Ogden said. “I commend the
students for having such a fun time with this and the art teachers
for producing such wonderful artwork. I’m a big advocate of arts in
schools, and I’m glad I had the chance to be heavily involved with
this contest.”
Bryan, College Station, Navasota, Somerville, Caldwell and Snook ISDs
were invited to participate in the program. Art teachers at each
school selected two students to receive the “best principal drawing”
award.

“Besides demonstrating their artistic abilities, students saw just
how many roles their principal may have,” said Michelle Golden-
Harris, art teacher at Jane Long Middle School in Bryan. “I enjoyed
showing students drawings from a previous contest book so that they
could see how other students looked up to their principals.”
The pictures and stories from this year’s contest will be compiled
into a book, with proceeds benefiting the Barbara Bush Literacy Corp.
Luana Zellner, director of The Principals Center, hosted the contest
in conjunction with ALI.

“We are so pleased with the turnout,” Zellner said. “Everyone
[students, principals, art teachers and parents] had fun with it.”
Zellner said that this year, the art teachers and children showed a
large interest in making this an annual contest, whether or not a
conference coincides.
“Now I want to be a part-time artist,” Madison Farrell, fourth grader
at Southwood Valley Elementary, said. “I’ll be a lawyer full time.”