Local Principal, Mary-Elaine Leake, 
Among America’s Best School leaders 
honored for sustaining strong schools during 
National Principals Month

ALEXANDRIA, VA–October 9, 2014–Mary-Elaine Leake is among 61

outstanding elementary and middle school principals from across the

nation and abroad who have been named as 2014 National Distinguished

Principals https://www.naesp.org/national-distinguished-principals-program (NDP)
by the National Association of Elementary School Principals
http://www.naesp.org/ (NAESP). 

Leake is principal of Astoria Lutheran School in Astoria, New York. 

The NDPs will be honored Oct. 17 at an awards banquet
 at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.,
as part of a two-day program.
This year marks the 25th year that the program has been
generously funded by VALIC.
 U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will deliver opening remarks.

Established in 1984, the program recognizes public and private school

principals who make superior contributions to their schools and communities. 

The distinguished principals are selected by
NAESP state affiliates, including the District of Columbia,
and by committees representing private and overseas schools.

NAESP Executive Director Gail Connelly congratulated the class of

outstanding principals, noting their significant role in successfully

leading students, schools, and communities through seismic shifts in

education. “These principals lead their school communities with courage

and compassion,” she said. “They represent the best and brightest of

the more than 65,000 elementary and middle-level principals who are

educating our nation’s children to their fullest potential.”

“VALIC is very proud of our 25 year partnership with the National

Distinguished Principals Award Program,” said Jana Greer, President and

CEO of VALIC. “We recognize the critical role education plays in the

lives of our nation’s children, and principals are the key to ensuring

the highest quality education.  On behalf of VALIC, I warmly

congratulate all 61 of this year’s National Distinguished Principals

and extend my deepest thanks for all that they do.”

October is a particularly fitting month to acknowledge the work of

principals, as a bill has been introduced in the House of

Representatives and another passed in the Senate declaring October 2014

National Principals Month http://www.principalsmonth.org/ (S. Res.

554 https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/sres554/BILLS-113sres554ats.pdf,

H. Res.662<https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hres662/BILLS-113hres662ih.pdf>).

National Principals Month was established to recognize and honor the

contributions of school principals and assistant principals toward the

success of the nation’s students, and encourage awareness of their

significance.

NOTE: A list of the 2014 NDPs can be accessed at

www.naesp.org/2014-class-national-distinguished-principals<;

http://www.naesp.org/2014-class-national-distinguished-principals>.

*****

Established in 1921, the National Association of Elementary School

Principals (NAESP) serves elementary and middle school principals in

the United States, Canada, and overseas. NAESP leads in the advocacy

and support for elementary and middle-level principals and other

education leaders in their commitment to all children.

For more than half a century, VALIC has served as a leading retirement

plan provider for K-12 schools and school districts, healthcare, higher

education, government and other not-for-profit institutions. As of June

30, 2014, VALIC has more than $88 billion in total customer assets

under management and manages plans for nearly 24,000 groups serving

more than 2 million plan participants. VALIC represents The Variable

Annuity Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries,
VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc. and VALIC Retirement Services Company.

CONGRATULATIONS: to our UPK Team and all the other teachers, staff, and parents, who helped us to prepare for our ECERS inspection in January. The results have been released, and out of 256 UPKs that were inspected city-wide, our site received the highest score!!!

Hunger in NYC-City Harvest helps more than 1 million New Yorkers who face hunger! Please donate canned foods or make a donation to our school or at chapel time till the month of April! Thanks

Barbara Darden - Special Service and Scholarship Fund

November 15, 2013

Dear Families:

It is with sadness that Astoria Lutheran school shares, that on November 8, 2013, Ms. Barbara Darden passed away after a long illness. Ms. Darden was a teacher at Queens Lutherans School/Astoria Lutheran School for over 35 years. Ms. Darden was the upper grade English teacher and had a great connection with the children.  In 1989, Ms. Darden was honored by the Lutheran Schools Association as Teacher of the Year.

A special service for Ms. Darden will be held at Grace Church, 31-20 21st Avenue, Astoria, New York 11105, on Sunday, December 8, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served in the Blue Room after the service.

In honor of Ms. Darden's long service at Queens Lutheran School and Astoria Lutheran School a scholarship fund will be established in her name.  An acknowledgement of your gift will be sent to the family.

Yours in Christ,

Mary-Elaine Leake
Principal/Director

Addendum: Several of you have asked where cards or donations may be sent. You may send them to:

Astoria Lutheran School
Barbara Darden Scholarship Fund
31-20 21st Avenue
Astoria, New York 11105

If sending in a donation, please make the check payable to Astoria Lutheran School, and on the memo line, please write Barbara Darden Scholarship Fund.

Fall Festival-October 11th

Remembering 9/11 at Astoria Lutheran School

First Day of School