Redwood Principal T. J. Ebert among Nation’s Best K-8 Principals

The Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators (OAESA) recently announced that T. J. Ebert, principal of Redwood Elementary School in the Avon Lake City School District was selected as Ohio’s 2018 National Distinguished Principal. The 2018 celebration marks the 34th year that the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) has presented this prestigious award.

“Mr. Ebert was nominated and selected by fellow principals through a statewide search process conducted by OAESA,” said Dr. Julie Davis, OAESA executive director. “The selection process included an extensive application, interviews, and a school visit from a team of colleagues. Comments from the visiting team included, ‘The three words used to describe Mr. Ebert are enthusiastic, passionate and engaged. It was very clear that he is all three,’ and ‘He believes in saying ‘we’ instead of ‘me’ and always brings decisions back to doing what is best for kids.”

Ebert was nominated by Staci Albanese, Northfield Elementary School Principal (Nordonia Hills City School District).

“We are all excited that Mr. Ebert has been selected as the OAESA Principal of the Year in Ohio and will be representing Ohio at the national level,” said Robert Scott, Avon Lake City Schools superintendent. “Mr. Ebert is an outstanding Principal. He not only has the knowledge and skill to do the job, but he has all of the intangibles that make him an educational leader. It is my pleasure to work with T.J. every day. He is a supporter of all students, staff, and school as well as a tremendous asset to the school district. This is recognition well-deserved, but the best part for me as a Superintendent is that Mr. Ebert will only get better in the future.”

Ebert has been with the Avon Lake City Schools for the past 12 years. He has been principal at Redwood for seven years.

“I am honored to receive this award,” said Ebert. “I have been blessed to work in a great school district. I work in a school with a staff that is innovative, with supportive parents and hardworking students.”

Ebert is a graduate of Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science (Education) and received his Master of Education (Administration) from Cleveland State University. He also received his Superintendent License through Ashland University in 2011.

Criteria for selection of the principals require that the honorees are active principals of schools where programs are designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students and where there are firmly established community ties with parents and local business organizations.

Ebert will receive the Ohio award at an Awards Luncheon during the OAESA Professional Conference, scheduled to take place on June 15 at the Hilton Columbus at Easton in Columbus. In October, Ebert will travel to Washington, D.C. for two days of activities planned to honor and bring well-deserved recognition to the elementary and middle-level educators chosen by the states, the District of Columbia, plus private and overseas schools.

ABOUT OAESA: Located in Columbus, the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators serves Ohio’s pre-K, elementary, middle level, and central office administrators by providing professional development, legal consultation, professional publications and networking opportunities. OAESA maintains close ties with the metropolitan Washington, D.C.-based NAESP and its 20,000 members worldwide.