MPA names Windham woman as one of the 2017 Dr. Phyllis Deringis Service to Maine Youth Awardees

Augusta, ME - The Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) has named the recipients of the MPA’s Dr. Phyllis Deringis Service to Maine Youth Award. This award, which is given annually, recognizes individual adults who have made an outstanding contribution to the youth of Maine through education and/or the general welfare of Maine youth. The 2017 Service to Maine Youth Awardees will be presented to Michelle Jordan of Windham, one of three awardees, at the MPA’s Spring Conference awards banquet on April 27.

 

Ms. Michelle Jordan, with her persistence, passion, and desire to improve the outdoor play experience for the students at Windham Primary School, helped to open two playground pods at the school. Ms. Jordan rallied the support of staff, businesses, and volunteers to raise over $50,000 for the project.

Ms. Jordan also has been the volunteer coordinator at Windham Primary School. After her children moved on to other schools, she has remained the coordinator for the school.  The role of the coordinator in the school is no small task!  With 42 classrooms and a community that wants to be involved, Ms. Jordan has created a volunteer system that meets the demands of teachers and the community. The efficient system includes a volunteer orientation and application process, and a management system for tracking volunteerism. 

She also organizes the volunteers for classroom support, specialized support for individual students, mentoring, and special events such as book fairs and flu clinics.  Each year the volunteer participation continues to increase and the opportunities to volunteer expand.  She has institutionalized a system that will remain when someone else continues as the coordinator. This exemplifies what effective leaders do.  

The Maine Principals’ Association is a professional association representing Maine’s K-12 principals, assistant principals, and career and technology center directors.  The Association dates back to 1921 and focuses its work on promoting the principal-ship, supporting principals as educational leaders, and promoting and administering interscholastic activities in grades 9-12.