Principal quarterbacks school to national honor

By Regina Villiers.  Originally published December 10, 1997 in the Suburban Life, added December 14, 2015

Principal David Stouffer, in his tenure, brought many honors to Sellman School, including the top two education awards - The National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award and the Ohio Best Award.

Principal David Stouffer, in his tenure, brought many honors to Sellman School, including the top two education awards – The National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award and the Ohio Best Award.

This is a story about good things happening to good people.

I know it’s popular to write about bad things happening to good people and how good people overcome the bad things.  But, sometimes, good people get exactly what’s coming to them.

When a contingent from Madeira schools went to Washington D.C. recently to accept a Blue Ribbon Award for Sellman Middle School, good people got what they deserved.

The Blue Ribbon Award is a national award and the highest recognition from the U.S. Department of Education.

In the beginning of the year, about 88,000 public and private schools across the country were eligible.  By the time the awards were presented, that list had been pared to 263 schools nationwide, with only a handful left in the Tristate area, with three winners in Cincinnati.

Dr. Michele Hummel, Madeira schools superintendent, and Barbara Bucholz, board member, accompanied Sellman Principal David Stouffer to Washington to accept the award.  Though they were disappointed the ceremony was not held at the White House because of rain and that President Bill Clinton did not attend, they were rewarded with accolades and attention.

On Thursday evening, they were honored at a reception at their hotel.  On Friday morning, the winning principals were honored at a special breakfast.  All groups then got a special tour of the White House.  The awards were presented by the assistant secretary of education, Pierce Hammond at a luncheon where the speakers were secretary of education, Richard W. Riley, and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Dave received Sellman’s award on stage from Hammond, but he was quick to share the glory.

“This is an honor we share with the whole community,” he said.

That statement is the secret behind Dave’s success and the reason Sellman wins so many honors.  He leads the way, but hands off the praise.

To use an analogy of the day, Dave is the “Boomer Esiason” of principals.  He knows what to do, and how and when to do it.  And then when the game is won, he gives everyone else the credit.  Like Boomer, he’s class, all the way.

I can say that about him because I know him.  We’ve been friends and co-workers for more years than I or he, I’m sure, would want to seen in print.  And if Children’s Hospital gave frequent committee meeting miles, we could both fly free to Timbuktu.  We’ve sat through zillions of hours there for the Ricky King Fund.

In the nine years he has been Sellman’s principal, the school has won too many honors to name.  I could just keep on ticking them off on my fingers.

Many of the honors and awards have come because of the innovative 30-Day Program he pioneered at Sellman three years ago.  It’s his idea, his “baby.”  Creative and novel, it has attracted attention to him in education circles across the country.  Last year, it won the Ohio Best Practices Award for Sellman.

Just as I admit to a tad of bias because of my friendship with Dave, I also admit to a wee bit of bias about Sellman and the 30-Day Program.  I am a part of it. But I have always been partial to Dave Stouffer and to Sellman School.

And I know schools.  My dad taught all his life, starting before I was born.  Most of my family taught.  I literally grew up in a classroom, and I truly believe teachers and classrooms are the most important influences on a child.

Dave will tell you his success at Sellman come from the support he receives from his administrators, from his teachers, from the parents, and the parent organizations.

He’s correct on all those counts.  All those factors at Sellman are topnotch.  But the big ingredient there is the everyday leadership.  I see that at work regularly at Sellman.

I’m privileged to be a part of the 30-day Program.  After my own classes are finished, I’m allowed the freedom to walk the halls with my notebook and camera.  I can walk into classrooms and observe.  I can see what’s really going on.

What’s really going on there is that your kids are behaving, learning, and doing the things you hope your kids do when they’re out of your sight.  They’re lucky to be there.  And teachers tell me they feel lucky to be there too.

It sometimes gives me the eerie feeling that I’m Laura Ingalls Wilder reincarnated, walking the halls of “Little School on the Prairie,” an eden among schools.

But all is not always prim and serious.  Dave knows that kids need to have fun too.  Morale is high priority.

Each year during Right to Read Week, he manages to “lose” an agreement and is “forced” to suffer while the kids watch and enjoy.  One year, he spent a day on the roof, running the school from his lofty perch.  It’s a day when kids let their hair down.

Last year, he outdid himself and “let his sideburns down,” so to speak.  For an entire day at Sellman, Elvis lived.

Elvis (aka Dave) arrived in the morning on one of the buses, dripping sequins, hair gel, and carrying his guitar.  His screaming fans met him outside and went crazy.  When strains of his guitar and “You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog,” floated over the speaker system during the morning, the kids freaked out.  All day, Elvis strolled the building, flaunting his dark shades and long sideburns.

His stunt for this year is still a secret.  It had better be good.  And it will be.

Dave has quarterbacked his team to a national honor.  He isn’t likely to let them down now.  He’ll continue to win.  And when he does, he’ll give the credit to everyone else.  He’s that kind of guy.

Principal David Stouffer accepts the Blue Ribbon Award from Pierce Hammond, the assistant secretary of education, in Washington D.C.

Principal David Stouffer accepts the Blue Ribbon Award from Pierce Hammond, the assistant secretary of education, in Washington D.C.

Last Spring, after Principal David Stouffer lost a Right to Read Week agreement with students, "Elvis" lived for a day at Sellman, rendering impromptu concerts to his fans.

Last Spring, after Principal David Stouffer lost a Right to Read Week agreement with students, “Elvis” lived for a day at Sellman, rendering impromptu concerts to his fans.