Brian Suits told the audience of students and staff that they made it a pleasure for him to come to work each day after he was honored as the Middle School Principal of the Year.
Dalton Middle School Principal Brian Suits has been named Georgia Middle School Principal of the Year by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals. The announcement was made in a surprise ceremony on Thursday. Mr. Suits was overwhelmed by the announcement and attributed his win to his staff and students.
“You make every day a pleasure to come to work,” he told the cafeteria full of students and staff. “I’m so humbled by this award. Thank you.”
Mr.
Suits has served as the principal of Dalton Middle for 14 years. He came to Dalton Middle after serving as assistant principal at Dalton High School.
GASSP Executive Director Melton Callahan and GASSP District M Representative Gina Linder were on hand to make the announcement.
“Mr. Suits is an outstanding administrator, and I am proud to have him represent the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals as Middle School Principal of the Year. It is a well-deserved honor and one Mr. Suits has earned through his hard work and dedication to Dalton Middle School.
The students and staff erupted into applause and provided Mr. Suits with a standing ovation. Mr. Suits’ wife, Cheryl, and son, Matthew, were among a large contingency of family and friends who were also on hand to celebrate the news.
“I’m so excited for Brian to receive this award,” said Dr. Jim Hawkins, superintendent of Dalton Public Schools. “He is very deserving of this award. He is committed to making every student feel important and valued at Dalton Middle, even as the school’s student enrollment has grown exponentially over the last few years. GASSP couldn’t have picked a better principal for this award.”
"One of the best things about receiving this award is that other schools in Georgia now have the chance to learn about Dalton Middle,” said Mr. Suits. “ I can't wait to get to share our story."
"This is all about team,” Mr. Suits added. “I work with the very best people in this state, and now everybody else will know how special our team is at Dalton Middle."
Mr. Suits was selected from three middle school principals who were named finalists from a statewide pool of nominees.
The criteria for selection included professional and school excellence, as well as evidence of exemplary work in collaboration, curriculum, instruction and assessment and personalization of the school's work to meet individual student needs.
GASSP is the state's largest and oldest association of school principals and is a state affiliate of the National Association of Secondary School Principals as well as affiliate of the Georgia Association of Education Leaders. The Georgia Principals of the Year will represent the state in the National Principal of the Year program, of which Georgia has had five National Principals of the Year and an additional three National finalists over the past decade.
GASSP Executive Director Melton Callahan and District M Representative Gina Linder congratulate Brian Suits as Middle School Principal of the Year after the surprise announcement.