LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i County Council on Wednesday recognized Koloa Elementary School Principal Debra Lindsey for winning a prestigious statewide award in April.
“Under Ms. Lindsey’s leadership, students, teachers, staff and the Koloa community have been part of a positive change that is supporting every student to be the best he or she can be,” Council Vice Chair JoAnn Yukimura read from the council’s certificate.
The eighth annual Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award landed the Koloa school $15,000 to continue an innovative program started by Lindsey and an additional $10,000 cash for Lindsey’s personal use.
“It’s such an honor to be recognized,” Lindsey said of the state award she received in April. “It was quite a surprise to have the island of Kaua‘i receive recognition in comparison to the other (education) complexes across the state.”
An educator for 31 years, Lindsey has been principal for 15 years, six of which have been at Koloa Elementary School.
About 65 percent of the school’s students are from “disadvantaged” families receiving some form of government help, according to Lindsey. However, this has not prevented Koloa school to continuously meet over the last six years Advanced Yearly Progress standards in accordance with the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
“We have a motto: Shoot for the moon, and if you fail, you’ll fall amongst the stars,” Lindsey said.
She said the school’s vision is about maximizing their potential, which almost seems like an oxymoron, as people tend to look at a potential as a point to reach.
But Koloa school believes in going beyond potential, Lindsey said.
“As we set that mindset, our teachers, our parents and our kids, we believe that anything is possible,” she said.
Lindsey had been nominated for the award among 10 other principals statewide. On April 13, at a special event on O‘ahu, a “thrilled” and “in shock” Lindsey learned she took top honors. Her winning project was a system of sustainability engaging collaboration among teachers that ultimately carries forward to the students.
She said the $15,000 award will be used to hire a consultant and continue the project.
