Dr. Joan Mele-McCarthy selected for the Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leadership Award

EDGEWATER, Md., April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dr. Joan A. Mele-McCarthy, CCC-SLP,  Head of School at The Summit School, has been selected by the Washington Post for the Distinguished Educational Leadership Award.  The Post seeks to recognize principals who go beyond the day-to-day demands of their position to create an exceptional environment.  Twenty-one awardees were selected from school systems in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.  The Post selects only one private school from the Washington metropolitan area.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120411/DC85734)

Dr. Mele-McCarthy was selected for the award based on her outstanding ability to manage effectively, demonstrate innovation, maintain dialogue with students, parents, faculty and staff, keep abreast of, and contribute to developments in the field, and encourage team spirit, to name a few.  Eleven letters of support were submitted on Dr. Mele-McCarthy's behalf from Summit parents, alumni parents, members of the Board of Directors, teachers, and nationally-renowned colleagues.  

"Every day Dr. McCarthy demonstrates leadership and exemplifies commitment.  She leads by example with thorough preparation and a positive attitude.  Her commitment to The Summit School and the children is unmistakable," expressed Elizabeth Crabtree, a Summit parent and member of the Board.

Prior to her leadership role at Summit, Dr. Mele-McCarthy was Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in the U.S. Department of Education from 2002-2005.  In 2006, Dr. Mele-McCarthy earned the coveted Rolland J. Van Hattum Award from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation for her significant contribution to schools in the field of speech-language pathology and literacy. Most recently, she was selected for Leadership Maryland's 20th Anniversary Class.  

In Summit's 23 years, more than 20 awards and honors have been earned by Summit, its leadership and faculty, including the U.S. Office of Education National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 1999.  This is the second time the Distinguished Educational Leadership Award has been given to Summit's leadership.   Dr. Jane R. Snider, Founding Executive Director and former Head of School, was selected for the award in 1998.  The Summit School serves bright students with dyslexia and other learning differences, grades 1-8.  Students travel from nine Maryland counties and the District of Columbia, with one family recently relocating from Hong Kong to attend the specialized program.

About The Summit School:

The Summit School, located in Edgewater, MD, is a non-profit school for grades 1-8. Summit offers a highly individualized academic program for bright students with dyslexia and other learning differences.  www.thesummitschool.org

Melanie Sipple
Director of Development and Marketing
410-798-0005 x143
[email protected]

SOURCE The Summit School