Covey named Wyoming's National Distinguished Principal

Anne Marie Covey just feels privileged to show up to work every day, but those around her recognize how outstanding the principal of Washington Elementary is. the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) recognized it too, choosing Covey as Wyoming's National Distinguished Principal for 2022.

"NAESP's National Distinguished Principal (NDP) program honors outstanding elementary and middle-level principals who ensure that America's children acquire a sound foundation for lifelong learning and achievement," the NAESP website explains. The organization chooses principals from around the country to receive the award and represent their states on a national level.

Covey learned she was nominated for this award back in December and went through a lengthy application process which included getting letters of recommendation, answering questions and writing pieces on the philosophy of education.

At the end of January, Covey was at a meeting at the Sweetwater County School District #2 central office when she got a call saying she was needed back at Washington. When she walked into the school she was met by her staff, her students, her colleagues from the district and her family, congratulating her on being chosen as the Distinguished Principal of the Year.

"I was so surprised," Covey remembers, thinking about everyone cheering for her and giving her flowers that day. Not only was she shocked by the celebration, she also was grateful for actually receiving the award.

"I'm humbled and flattered by that, to be thought of as someone at that caliber or that level," Covey said. "I've been in education for 25 years, and I've been a principal for 19 of those 25, and I am so thankful for the work I get to do and the people I get to do it with each and every day, from my staff to my kids and their families. So I truly was very humbled and so proud to represent Sweetwater 2, Washington Elementary, Green River, and the state of Wyoming. To think that I'm going to be doing that is kind of surreal."

The last time someone from Sweetwater County received the Distinguished Principal of the Year award was in 1984 - the same year the award program was started. Covey expressed her excitement over Sweetwater County getting recognition not only from this award but from the Wyoming Teacher of the Year Award, which Brittney Montgomery from Harrison Elementary received in September.

"This district has amazing things going on and it has amazing people within this district, and I think it's just a representation of the work that goes on," Covey said. She noted she and Montgomery are only individual people but the hard work necessary for these awards happens throughout the district. "We want to give and do what's best for our kids and our families and give them the best education possible, not only helping them grow and achieve academically but also as people and helping them down the road in their life. We want to help develop great humans."

SCSC #2 Superintendent Craig Barringer is also excited for the recognition the district is getting, and agrees it represents the work of many people.

"When these kinds of awards happen in our schools, I think it's a tribute to the current kids and teachers and the past kids and teachers because to get those awards you have to have established a good culture," Barringer said. "And that is not easy to do. And that takes people in and outside of the walls of the school and it takes many years. So these kinds of awards are really a tribute to people that are no longer there and families whose kids are now into the high school and beyond."

While recognizing many people contribute to awards like the Distinguished Principal of the Year, Barringer also recognized Covey is particularly deserving of the specific recognition.

"Anne Marie, since the moment I walked into the district, has really stood out as an outstanding principal," he said. "This district is very fortunate to have so many good people leading their buildings, but Anne Marie has the best program at her building, which has really created some opportunities for young kids, and she does a great job of leading her staff through the challenges the last two school years have brought to all of us."

Covey's patience, perseverance and "can-do leadership" have helped create an especially good culture at Washington Elementary, according to Barringer.

The Distinguished Principal of the Year award recognizes elementary and middle-level principals specifically, and Covey loves working with the kids at this level. She acknowledged there are many challenges, particularly with responding to the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years. However, she also sees the rewards of working with younger kids every day, from the small moments like helping them tie their shoes or zip up their coats to the bigger moments when teachers share their excitement over the progress they see from their students.

"Our kids at this elementary level, they just unconditionally love you and are so excited about learning and growing and being here," Covey said.

Now that she has been recognized for the work she loves, Covey is looking forward to the chances she'll have to represent her district and state, from meetings through the year to a trip she'll take to Washington D.C. in October to meet with the other distinguished principals from around the country. She also maintains her belief SCSC #2 is the best.

"We put kids first and we put our people first, and when we can have great environments for people to come to work every day it ultimately is going to have an amazing impact on our kids," Covey explained. "We're focused on growing kids, the whole child, social emotional aspects of our kids, and growing and developing strong people, and then also of course amazing and strong rigorous instruction around reading and writing and math and all those other aspects of school and wanting to create a place where people want to come every day, big or little."