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COLUMBIA, MO. -- The Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) has selected Darin Powell, principal at Bowling Green High School, as the 2011 Missouri High School Principal of the Year.

Powell was awarded the recognition based on his impact in the areas of collaborative leadership; curriculum, instruction and assessment; and his personalization of the learning environment.

“It is a compliment for what the teachers and students do here,” Powell said. “It is definitely an honor to be nominated and selected by my peers.”  Read more about Powell's response at The People's Tribune.

Bowling Green Superintendent Michael Gray wrote that he selected Mr. Powell, "… based upon, in part, his vision for high school education, curriculum and instructional knowledge, leadership skills, and his willingness to put forth the energy and effort to move Bowling Green High School forward into the future.”

Gray continued, “Mr. Powell has developed and maintains a very supportive climate for staff and students … One can sense that the environment is warm, caring, comfortable and safe for all.”  He also said that “He works hard in providing support for identified areas of improvement and is personally supportive of staff through the process.”

Gray described Powell’s leadership style and added, “One key ingredient in this style of leadership is the ability to build consensus within and among the different groups.  Mr. Powell is very skillful in building consensus and giving the groups authority within guidelines to act and move forward.”

The selection was made from more than 600 high school principals from throughout Missouri.

Powell served as principal at Hannibal High School (2001-2008) and was named principal at Bowling Green High School in 2008.  He received a Bachelor of Science (1990) at Northeast Missouri State University, Master of Arts in Secondary Administration (1992) from Northeast Missouri State University and Education Specialist (2004) at William Woods University.

MASSP sponsors the High School and Middle School Principal of the Year Programs.  Powell will represent Missouri in the MetLife/National Association of Secondary School Principals’ High School Principal of the Year program.