CFA Principal Ahna Davis Named AASSP Principal of the Year

Congratulations to our very own Cabot Freshman Academy Principal Ahna Davis for recently being named the Arkansas Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) Principal of the Year! Dr. Mike Hernandez, AAEA Executive Director, surprised Ms. Davis with the award in front of her family, friends, and colleagues.

The state and national principal of the year awards program annually recognizes outstanding secondary school leaders who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students. This award is given annually to a secondary school principal in each state who exemplifies the word "outstanding." The winner of this award is viewed by his/her peers as being worthy to represent our state on the national stage. The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), along with the U.S. Department of Education, is beginning the 23rd year of participation in this outstanding recognition event.

Ms. Davis has been with the Cabot School District for 20 years and has been principal at the Cabot Freshman Academy for five years. As stated in a press release from the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators (AAEA), during this time, she has worked to bring programs in that promote achievement and increase student ownership of their learning. In the fall of 2019, Cabot Freshman Academy was chosen by College Board as one of only 200 schools in the nation to implement Pre-AP for all. The school was also named a School to Watch due to high student growth in the 2021-2022 school year. This year, the school was awarded the PLCs at Work grant, which they have utilized to examine and improve areas of deficit in student instruction to ensure that all students leave at the end of the year with the essential skills needed to be successful moving forward. Ms. Davis leads her faculty to take on the mentality that all students can learn at any level if the expectation is set high.

Supt. Dr. Tony Thurman states, "Ms. Davis is a shining example of how the building principal is the true education leader. It's very clear to every staff member that Ms. Davis is engaged with what's happening in every classroom and with her students. Ms. Davis has taken the state's PLC initiative and has quickly become a model site in our state for Professional Learning Communities. She is very involved in the process and leads with knowledge, passion, and enthusiam."

For the full press release, click HERE.

Congratulations Ms. Davis! We are Panther Proud of you!