Longacre Elementary Principal Barbara Elson Honored by Principals Association

principal Barbara Elson has been selected as the MEMSPA (Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association) Region 7 Elementary Principal of the Year.

MEMSPA is a professional association for elementary and middle level principals.

 principal Robert Kauffman, who also serves as MEMSPA's president-elect, and Mary Barghahn, principal at Burt Elementary School in Waterford, presented the award as a surprise during a May 15 school assembly. 

Elson, who will be recognized during the May 29 Farmington school board meeting at , began her career with in the fall of 2004 and has spent all of her years with the District as Longacre's principal. 

A Farmington Schools press release noted that "colleagues describe Barb as a true leader, who lives and breathes her school. Students and parents appreciate how she celebrates the accomplishments of her students well beyond their elementary school years."

According to one colleague, Elson "knows how to motivate, educate and support her staff to help create the best learning environment for children and adults alike. She writes weekly notes of positive behavior for students and sends them home to parents. She brought Math Pentathlon to Longacre Elementary, and is seen monthly going around and snapping photos for the monthly Pride Cirlce assemblies."