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Professor James Stronge honored with the Lamp of Knowledge Award

Prof. Stronge has amassed nearly $14 million in grants and contracts since 1989

James H. Stronge, Heritage professor at the College of William and Mary, has been selected the 2011 Frank E. Flora Lamp of Knowledge Award by the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (VASSP). 

According to Dr. Barrack, the VASSP Awards Committee that nominated Dr. Stronge based their decision on his impressive knowledge and contributions to the educational leadership field. The prestigious VASSP award recognizes an individual in the field of education who brings honor to the profession and has a record of outstanding contributions working with school leaders. The Committee was unanimous in their decision to nominate Dr. Stronge and the VASSP Board of Directors accepted the nomination. The award is being presented at the 84th Annual Virginia Middle and High School Principals Conference & Exposition held June 26-29, 2011.

"It is not an annual award." said Dr. Barrack. "The Association only gives it when the governing board thinks someone has risen to the occasion and deserves it. Typically nominations come from members," he said. The award is named after University of Virginia's long time professor of education, the late Frank E. Flora, who became the first VASSP executive director. Professor Flora also served as an adviser to the Association for nearly 15 years before becoming the first full-time executive director of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents.

VASSP President Dr. Richard Turner said, "This honor for Dr. Stronge is not only a testament to his hard work and leadership, but it is a testimony to improving the quality of public school education throughout Virginia. Dr. Stronge is a prolific writer and researcher and has become the „go to professor‟ by many organizations on issues related to educational leadership."

Professor Stronge has amassed nearly $14 million in grants and contracts since 1989, mainly from the U.S. Department of Education and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). "This grant support alone shows the degree of respect and confidence public administrative agencies have in the quality of Dr. Stronge‟s work. Virginia is fortunate to have an educational leader of his caliber in the Commonwealth," Dr. Barrack said.

Dr. Stronge has been the lead consultant for the VDOE's state-wide systems for the Virginia Uniform Performance Standards for Teachers, Revised; Virginia Guidelines for Teacher Evaluation; and Virginia Guidelines for Teacher Pay for Performance. This fall he will begin work with the VDOE‟s school principal evaluation initiative.

Note: Contact information for James Stronge: jhstro@wm.edu, (757) 221-2339.

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ABOUT VASSP
In existence since 1906, the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals is the preeminent organization of and the state voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders from across the Commonwealth.
Our Mission: To assist school principals and assistant principals in providing leadership to their schools and communities for the purpose of improving the education of Virginia's youth.
Our Vision: To be the Commonwealth's foremost authority in the school leadership of Virginia's youth.
School Leaders
In executing the Association's mission and vision, VASSP provides:
 leadership in the areas of training and development for school principals and assistant principals and other school personnel that can contribute to the mission of VASSP;
 leadership in being a legal advocate for school principals and assistant principals;
 leadership in representing the interests of school principals and assistant principals before the Virginia Board of Education, the General Assembly of Virginia, the executive branch of government, and the media; and
 leadership training for Virginia's youth.
Student Leaders VASSP also promotes the intellectual growth, academic achievement, character and leadership development, and physical well-being of youth. VASSP is proud to administer the Virginia Student Councils Association. VSCA is the nation's oldest state student council organization and the only pre-k through 12th grade state student council in the United States.