Ghada Huleis National Distinguished Principal 2004

Each year the United States Department for Education along with the National Association of Elementary School Principals and in corporate sponsorship with the Annuity Life Insurance Company looks to identify exceptional principals in elementary and middle schools across both the public and private sectors of education. This annual award is granted on the following principals:

• To attain national recognition for the critical leadership role of public and private school principals;
• To inspire the educational community to pay tribute to its own outstanding leaders;
• To increase public awareness of the importance of the principalship through board media coverage events; and
• To offer the opportunity for professionals serving both public and private schools to meet and work together toward sharing experiences, solving problems, and meeting common goals.

In June of 2004 the National Distinguished Principal Private School Selection Committee met to review all of the candidates from the private sector. The Division for Higher Education and Schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is please to announce that our candidate Ghada Huleis, has been chosen as a 2004 National Distinguished Principal. Ghada serves as principal of Salem Lutheran School a ministry program of Salem Lutheran Church in Glendale, California. Salem Lutheran is a K - 6 elementary school with an enrollment of 190 students. Ghada received both her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and her Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from California State University at Northridge. She has served at Salem Lutheran as both a teacher and principal since 1988. The children of Salem Lutheran School are active in their service learning through an intergenerational ministry supported by a generous grant from the ELCA Foundation. This program engages school children and the elderly. This project is shared with four neighboring congregations and schools. The students also participate in Compassion International sponsoring four children. They share ideas and exchange projects with Himawari Elementary School in Nanao-Shi, Japan. Students take on the St Jude’s Math-a-Thon to raise money for research at St. Jude’s in Memphis, Tennessee. Regular communication and sharing happens to support the Lutheran school ministries program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan. A Christmas collection of toys is also an important project the school takes on. The toys are sent to Para Los Ninos Orphanage in Colonia a Guerra, Mexico. States Mrs. Huleis, “I strive to help all students at Salem grow and mature academically, socially, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Each year I am proud of the student’s accomplishments on campus and outside the school. Salem kids set the standard in the community and are highly recognized.” Says parent Randi Bennett of Mrs. Huleis, “Mrs. Huleis is one of those rare individuals who consistently raises the bar; her standards are high, yet attainable and realistic for staff, students and parents alike. She articulates her goals and welcomes feedback. With a true gift for leadership, Mrs. Huleis empowers her teaching staff to create, learn, and develop their unique teaching styles. She provides her teachers with steady guidance, but at the same time allows them to set their own classroom pace and goals.” The Division for Higher Education and Schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America celebrates the great accomplishments of Mrs. Ghada Huleis, Salem Lutheran School and the congregation of Salem