It is a humbling honor but also a tremendous opportunity for me to share the Wando story and tell folks about the wonderful place we call home. Words will not let me adequately express my appreciation to the Wando faculty and staff, our students, our parents and the entire community for your contributions to Wando’s success.

This honor is not mine alone, and you all deserve to share in it. The joy, pride and excitement which have been expressed to me since I was given this recognition on Sept. 28, have made the whole experience even more special.

In the past few weeks I have been showered with many good wishes, cards, notes, plants, flowers and food.  Congratulations from our current students who engage their principal in conversation are a high point for me.

I have received wonderful notes which touched my heart from former students of mine, former colleagues, my high school and college classmates, members of our Wando family, and some strangers as well as Wando graduates from across the country.

My spirits continue to be lifted by the encouraging words of folks around town who take the time to speak to me.

From signs at local businesses to pictures in the newspapers, I have been honored and blessed with your shared pride and joy in this achievement.  My family has also shared in this celebration.  My 84-year-old mother, a former teacher, spent the week here after the announcement was made and enjoyed so much the whole event. My 3-year-old grandson, Christopher, passed a newsstand with his mom and spotted his picture with me which was in the Moultrie News. He said, “There I am!  I need that paper!” Needless to say, his mom bought one on the spot.

Attending the National Principals Conference in Washington, D.C. Oct. 14-17, was a great experience where I learned more about national educational issues and innovative practices being used in some of the best high schools in America.  

This conference was sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and MetLife. I met the state high school winners from across the country along with the state middle school principals of the year.

I was awed by some of their stories and the skills and knowledge they shared in our professional meetings.

The conference ended with a beautiful formal dinner where every state winner was honored and recognized.  Dr. Nancy McGinley also attended this gala where U.S. Secretary of Education, Arnie Duncan, was the keynote speaker. I had the opportunity to be the closing speaker for this event. MetLife was the very generous corporate sponsor for the whole conference and treated us like royalty.

I particularly enjoyed spending one full day on Capitol Hill where all of the state winners called on their elected representatives and senators.

We from SC visited the offices of Senators Dewitt and Graham in the Russell Senate Office Building and then traveled under the Capitol to the House Office Building where Represen-tative Henry Brown’s office is located.

Representative Brown is a proud Wando granddad, and he gave us great personal attention and time. We also visited the offices of Representative Jim Cly-burn, the Majority Whip of the House, which are located in the Capitol itself.  Even though we stopped by at nearly 6 p.m., Represen-tative Clyburn was gracious and welcoming.  

He and his wife were both former school teachers in Charles-ton.

In addition to our congressional visits, I also had the opportunity to speak at a NASSP congressional staff briefing on current educational issues.

Because I had worked as an intern for Senator Strom Thurmond 40 years ago, I found it fascinating to be back in the Capitol and Congressional office buildings.

Many folks have asked if being the National High School Principal of the Year means that I will be leaving Wando for a year and traveling full-time.  The answer is absolutely not.  

This honor does mean that I may be asked at times to represent high school principals at some national meetings and conferences and to act as their spokesman.

I accept that responsibility as huge privilege.  

However, I know that the reason I have this opportunity is that I have been richly blessed to lead one of the most talented faculties and staffs found in any high school in this country in a community which truly cares about and supports its children.  

(Lucy Beckham is the principal of Wando High School).