Perkins’ leader Craig Martin named ‘Principal of the Year’

Craig Martin

Craig Martin, principal of the Michael J. Perkins Elementary School in South Boston, has been named the Thomas C. Passios Elementary Principal of the Year by the Massachusetts School Administrators’ Association.

Martin, who has served as principal of the Perkins School since the 2013-14 school year, will also represent the Commonwealth in the National Distinguished Principal Program, sponsored by the National Association of Elementary School Principals, in Washington, D.C., in October.

“The students at the Perkins School have made tremendous strides,” said Martin, who added: “It could not have happened without the growth of positive relationships and teamwork between the students, teachers, families, and administration.”

Students at the K-5 Perkins have demonstrated steady gains in performance during Martin’s leadership. Suspensions have dropped by by 50 percent and chronic absenteeism by 22 percent from 2012 to 2017. This year’s MCAS results show Latino students and English Learners at the school surpassed the state average for these groups in English language arts and mathematics.

Martin describes three practices as key to his leadership: “the power of feedback, publicize the praise, and joy matters!” Each week, his Instructional Leadership Team identifies “Instructional Look Fors,” which become the basis of his observations and feedback in classrooms.

“It’s fantastic to see such a passionate educator from the Boston Public Schools held up as an example for school leaders across Massachusetts,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “Principal Martin’s enthusiasm and dedication are what help make our schools such welcoming and wonderful places for all of our students.”

He began his education career as a teacher and technology specialist in the Boston Public Schools in 2005. Martin holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Dillard University in New Orleans and an M.Ed. from Lesley University in Cambridge. He will be honored at an upcoming Boston School Committee meeting.


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