Wayne Township Preschool’s Kathryn Raasch named 2018 National Distinguished Principal

Kathryn Raasch is among 62 outstanding elementary and middle school principals from across the nation and abroad who have been named as 2018 National Distinguished Principals by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). Mrs. Raasch is principal of Wayne Township Preschool in the MSD of Wayne Township.

Describing her accomplishments, the NAESP says of Mrs. Raasch: “Throughout her career, Raasch has remained a fearless advocate for young learners in need, exhibiting a tireless commitment to ensuring quality early education in a state where preschool is neither guaranteed nor universally funded.”

Mrs. Raasch took leadership at Wayne Township Preschool in its opening months and quickly mobilized to increase enrollment, build a shared culture, and increase community accessibility. She skillfully united a teaching team representing 11 different preschools by shepherding an intensive process to generate the school’s mission, values, and goals. With these in place to guide assessment and instruction, Raasch went on to lead the school through national accreditation, earning recognition as a Quality Level 4 school.

The National Distinguished Principals will be honored Oct. 12 at an awards banquet at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., as part of a two-day program. October is National Principals Month, which was established to recognize and honor the contributions of school principals and assistant principals toward the success of the nation’s students, and encourage awareness of their significance.