Big recognition for small school

Franklin’s Pfeil named one of America’s best principals, By Pat Morris Franklin — Patricia Pfeil, principal of Franklin Borough School, was named a 2010 National Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals and represented New Jersey at a two-day program for distinguished principals from throughout the nation held in Washington, D.C., last month. Earlier this year, Pfeil was named a Visionary Principal of the Year by the New Jersey Principals and Superintendents Association. “We’re feeling quite proud of Dr. Pfeil and her achievement,” said Thomas Turner, district superintendent, who described the principal as on the “cutting edge” of education. Pfeil, he said, has a special talent for “seeing the needs of a child and matching them with the resources available.” “She inspires teachers and children alike,” he said. “It’s a gift. She probably doesn’t recognize it.” Turner told The Advertiser-News that “she would say it (her recognition) is about the students and teachers,” and his prediction proved correct. “I’m very pleased to be honored, but it goes without saying that I accepted on behalf of my staff, the parents and the students here,” Pfeil said, when asked about her latest achievement. “It is quite an honor to be selected from such a pool,” she admitted, saying New Jersey is rife with dedicated and creative principals, “and it was only given to me because I work with such wonderful people.” Pfeil praised Turner and the rest of the school administration, and especially the teachers at Franklin Borough School. Getting creative in tough times Like all educators, she said, “We are being asked to do more and more with less and less,” meeting increasingly strict federal and state standards despite budget cuts and limited resources. Franklin’s recent budget cuts, she said, mean keeping the same quality of education with fewer faculty members to handle the job. That’s one reason, she said, she enjoyed meeting and brainstorming in Washington with her peers from around the country. Some were from large districts with many elementary schools, and others, like Pfeil, work in small districts where they have to wear many hats — for example, being involved in grant writing and fundraising — in addition to administration. They all, she said, face similar challenges and helped each other by sharing strategies and ideas. Among the topics they discussed: How do you handle issues like teacher evaluation? Student dress codes? Special education? Angry parents? She learned about interventions her school could implement, and got ideas for service projects her students could work on, just to give two examples. “Most, if not all, of the people there were so excited about education that a synergy was created,” Pfeil said. “You left with the feeling of ‘I can do it.’” Turner said Pfeil exudes that energy every day. Can-do spirit “She believes in education,” he said. “She has a unique ability to bring out the best in people; she really does. She believes what we do is important. She lives it.” Pfeil also carried back to her district her excitement at being close to the movers and shakers in the nation’s capital. “We got to have dinner in the State Department,” she remembered. “We went to the top floor, which opens up into a room where you are transported back to the Revolutionary period.” Among the valuable antiques there, she said, was the desk used to sign the Treaty of Paris, for example. “When I realized that just recently Hillary Clinton was in the same room, that this is where she brokered peace in the Middle East,” she was overcome with a sense of history, Pfeil said. Another highlight of her trip was being honored at a black-tie gala, where she received a set of old-fashioned school bells - except these were gold and engraved — among other mementos. In addition to praising her administration, staff, parents and students, Pfeil had a more personal thank you to add to her family, and in particular her husband Ron. The Hampton resident said that her job involves long hours, and all of her colleagues at the program agreed that they couldn’t do their jobs the way the need to be done without a supportive spouse and family who understand the need for them to be away from home a lot.