North Augusta Elementary School Assistant Principal Lindsey Hager heard the call for assistance to the school’s cafeteria Friday morning and quickly rushed to help. Little did she know that hidden behind the cafeteria partition were members of her family and District staff who were there to surprise her with the announcement that she was the ACPSD Assistant Principal of the Year.
“I just have so much appreciation in my heart right now for our faculty and staff because even though I have an award, this is really an award for our entire school,” stated Hager. “I couldn’t do my job without them. We all work together, we communicate well, and we are a family. When one of us wins, we all win. When one of us loses, we all lose.”
For Hager, building bonds of trust and solid relationships both inside and outside of her school building is the essence of what it means to be an effective administrator
“I really believe that building relationships with everyone in the school and in the community is what makes a good school and those beliefs have proven true during my career,” commented Hager. “Building relationships builds trust. When you have that trust, people are willing to help make change. You have to listen and be there for them when they need you most.”
One of the closest relationships Hager shares at North Augusta Elementary School is with Principal Patricia Wilson, who herself was named to the Principal of the Year Honor Court earlier this year. Wilson says Hager is a terrific representation of what an ideal assistant principal is meant to be in the way she works to serve her colleagues and support others.
“Lindsey is someone everyone can talk to,” stated Wilson. “She jumps in to help wherever we need her and always sees those things that need to be done so she is a true partner. She really helps me by offering a different viewpoint when decisions need to be made so we can conclude what’s best for the school and our teachers and students. She does a fabulous job.”
The Assistant Principal of the Year Honor Court included Lindsey Hager, Jamie Byrne of Aiken Intermediate School, and Tami Shaffer of South Aiken High School.
Thank you to our 2020 Stars of Public Education sponsors, including Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Public Education Partners, SRP Federal Credit Union, Security Federal, Rhodes Graduation Services, H.G. Reynolds Construction, Peach State Federal Credit Union, Hunt Insurance & Retirement Services, Economic Development Partnership, East Aiken School of the Arts PTO, Greendale Elementary School PTO, Aiken High Booster Club, J.D. Lever Elementary School PTO, Busbee Elementary School PTO, Jefferson Elementary School PTO, New Ellenton STEAM Middle Magnet School PTO, Schofield Middle School PTO, Silver Bluff High School PTO, and the Hammond Hill Elementary School PTO.
LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: 2020 PR NORTH AUG ELEM APOY WINNER