NAESP Announces 2026 National Gold Star Schools

In the inaugural year, 57 elementary and middle-level schools from across the U.S. received this distinction. 

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA—May 11, 2026—The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) today announced the 2026 recipients of its National Gold Star School® recognition, honoring elementary and middle-level schools across the country that demonstrate exemplary leadership, innovation, and commitment to student success. 

This year’s honorees represent diverse communities and reflect the highest standards of effective school leadership, academic excellence, and inclusive learning environments. 

“National Gold Star Schools represent what is possible when strong leadership, dedicated educators, engaged families, and supportive communities work together,” said NAESP Executive Director L. Earl Franks, Ed.D., CAE. “These schools are models of excellence and inspiration for school leaders and schools nationwide.” 

Selected through a competitive process, National Gold Star Schools are recognized for their accomplishments, based on NAESP’s framework of the Three Pillars of the Principalship: 

  • Established Culture: Shared values, family engagement, and well-being. 

  • Empowered People: Collaborative teaching, distributed leadership, and holistic support. 

  • Optimal Systems: Effective use of talent and resources, district support, and strategic focus. 

The 2026 National Gold Star Schools are: 

  • Northridge Middle School, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Principal Jami Rainey 

  • West Point Intermediate School, Vinemont, Alabama, Principal Mike Jones 

  • Bear Valley Elementary School, Anchorage, Alaska, Principal Nicole Scherer 

  • Kincaid Elementary School, Anchorage, Alaska, Principal Wendy Zorea 

  • Vista del Sur Accelerated Academy, Laveen, Arizona, Principal Jessica Epacs 

  • Gladden Farms Elementary School, Marana, Arizona, Principal Nayadin Persaud 

  • Anasazi Elementary School, Scottsdale, Arizona, Principal Jennifer Waldron 

  • Oak Valley Elementary School, Buellton, California, Principal Lisa Melby 

  • Buford School, Lennox, California, Principal Maricela De La Torre 

  • Jefferson Elementary School, Lennox, California, Principal Robert Estrada 

  • First Street School, Lincoln, California, Principal Lyndsay Reynolds 

  • John Burroughs Middle School, Los Angeles, California, Principal Steve Martinez 

  • Ronald Reagan Elementary School, Palm Desert, California, Principal Mark Baldwin 

  • Global Village Academy-Douglas County, Parker, Colorado, Principal Stacy Bush 

  • Dayspring Academy Harmony, Port Richey, Florida, Principal Wendy Finlay 

  • Pharr Elementary School, Snellville, Georgia, Principal Shamarlas Allens 

  • Dove Creek Elementary School, Statham, Georgia, Principal Grace Staniszewski 

  • Kāneʻohe Elementary School, Kāneʻohe, Hawaii, Principal Derek Minakami 

  • St. Benedict Preparatory School, Chicago, Illinois, Principal Rachel Gemo Bernhardt 

  • Hadley Middle School, Homer Glen, Illinois, Principal Kristen Schroeder 

  • Pleasantdale Elementary School, LaGrange, Illinois, Principal Kathleen Tomei 

  • St. Giles School, Oak Park, Illinois, Principal Meg Bigane 

  • Tyler Heights Elementary School, Annapolis, Maryland, Principal Julia Walsh 

  • Arnold Elementary School, Arnold, Maryland, Principal Shauna Kauffman 

  • Indian Queen Elementary School, Fort Washington, Maryland, Principal Aundrea McCall  

  • Country Elementary School, Weston, Massachusetts, Principal Erin Maguire 

  • Grosse Ile Elementary School, Grosse Ile, Michigan, Principal Nicole Garza 

  • Glen Lake Middle School, Maple City, Michigan, Principal Dina Rocheleau 

  • Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion School, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Principal Hernan Moncada 

  • East Flora Elementary School, Flora, Mississippi, Principal Marsha Peoples 

  • Lewis and Clark Elementary School, Liberty, Missouri, Principal Mitchell Hiser 

  • Ozark East Elementary School, Ozark, Missouri, Principal Karen Capen 

  • Clarence A. Piggott Academy of International Studies, Las Vegas, Nevada, Principal David Hudzick 

  • The Elisabeth Morrow School, Englewood, New Jersey, Principal Marek Beck 

  • Dows Lane Elementary School, Irvington, New York, Principal Andrea Kantor 

  • Palmyra-Macedon Intermediate School, Macedon, New York, Principal Jenn Check 

  • PS 94Q - The David D. Porter School, Queens, New York, Principal Laura Avakians 

  • Prairie Rose Elementary School, Dickinson, North Dakota, Principal Nicole Weiler 

  • Maddux Elementary School, Cincinnati, Ohio, Principal Joy O'Brien 

  • Lincoln Elementary School, Pryor, Oklahoma, Principal Amber Wilkins 

  • Sangre Ridge Elementary School, Stillwater, Oklahoma, Principal Cami Patzkowski 

  • Clark Elementary School, Erie, Pennsylvania, Principal Donna Rose 

  • John R. Bonfield Elementary School, Lititz, Pennsylvania, Principal Amy Balsbaugh 

  • Matunuck Elementary School, Wakefield, Rhode Island, Principal Elizabeth McGuire 

  • Springfield Elementary School, Fort Mill, South Carolina, Principal Adam Fantone 

  • Beech Hill Elementary School, Summerville, South Carolina, Principal Rene Harris 

  • Brickey McCloud Elementary School, Knoxville, Tennessee, Principal Susan Hutton 

  • O'Shea Keleher Whole Child Academy, El Paso, Texas, Principal Laura Garcia 

  • Kay Granger Elementary School, Fort Worth, Texas, Principal Michelle McAdams 

  • Preston Smith Elementary School, Lubbock, Texas, Principal Jaci Underwood 

  • Park View Intermediate School, Pasadena, Texas, Principal Christina Serna 

  • Grovecrest Elementary School, Pleasant Grove, Utah, Principal Mike Larson 

  • Bonneville Elementary School, Salt Lake City, Utah, Principal Karen Holman 

  • Trailside Elementary School, Vineyard, Utah, Principal Geovanni Guzman 

  • Parkside Elementary School, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, Principal Amy Jahn 

  • St. Croix Falls Elementary School, Saint Croix Falls, Wisconsin, Principal Rita Platt 

  • Alta Vista Elementary School, Cheyenne, Wyoming, Principal Brook Yearsley 

Principals from the selected schools will be formally recognized at the National School Leaders Conference Powered by NAESP at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida, in July 2026.  

About the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)

Founded in 1921, NAESP serves elementary and middle-level principals and other education leaders in the United States, Canada, and overseas. NAESP’s mission is to lead in the advocacy and support of effective, high-quality education for all children by empowering principals as visionary leaders. Visit NAESP.org for more information.

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