Principal Steve Millsaps of Lenoir City High School has been named East Tennessee Principal of the Year by the Education Networks of America (ENA).

Millsaps reports he received a nomination from a fellow principal. "I think Jennifer Malone nominated me," Millsaps said. After a long selection process he was recognized. "Towards the end of June, I was nominated, then they went through a selection process that narrowed it down to nine across the state," he explained. After two rounds of written questions, the nine finalists went to Nashville for an interview process.

During a banquet at the Tennessee Educational LEADership Conference, the ENA introduced the three Grand Division winners and then the principal of the year was chosen from the three Grand Division winners. "I won the East but not the state," Millsaps said with a laugh. He said the statewide winner Janice Womble, currently principal of Deery Eakin Primary School in Bedford County, was named the Principal of the Year for the entire state - an award Millsaps said was "well deserved" since Womble heads a troubled school and managed to raise test scores significantly.

Millsaps said he had informed Director of Lenoir City School Wayne Miller, who is vacationing in Hawaii, of the honor.

Millsaps was quick to recognize his staff and city school leaders as being a big reason for the award.
"It's really neat for our system. It's just a reflection of our school and school system not just me.  I'm just fortunate enough to be receiving the award. This wouldn't be possible if not for my assistant principals, Mr. Miller, our central office people and the school board," he said adding with the renovations the school is still undergoing and the tougher educational standards being put in place, "it's gotten a lot harder."

This isn't the first time Millsaps has received statewide recognition but last time it was for his coaching skills.

"In 1988 I was coaching basketball and had a team go to the state finals," he recalled. Then he was recognized as the East Tennessee Coach of the Year and Tennessee AA Coach of the Year. "I feel pretty good about having achieved this both academically and athletically,' Millsaps said. 

The Supervisor of the Year and Principal of the Year programs are sponsored by ENA. Each Principal of the Year and Superintendent of the Year finalist receives $500. Grand division winners receive an additional $500 and the state winners receive an additional $500.

mary.hinds@news-herald.net