Ms. Kathryn Miluski, principal of Town Creek Elementary School, has been selected as St. Mary’s County Public Schools’ recipient of The Washington Post’s Distinguished Educational Leadership Award.

 The Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leadership Award exists to recognize those principals who go beyond the daily challenges of their position to create an exceptional educational environment.

 “We are very proud of Ms. Miluski,” said Dr. Michael J. Martirano, superintendent of schools.  “Her instructional leadership has produced a strong learning community amongst her staff and has allowed her students to maintain a high level of achievement.”

 Ms. Miluski joined St. Mary’s County Public Schools in 1984 as a second grade teacher at Oakville Elementary Schools.  The following year, she transferred to George Washington Carver Elementary where she served as a classroom teacher from 1984 to 1991.  From 1991 to 1993, Ms. Miluski served as an administrative intern at Leonardtown and Green Holly Elementary Schools until being named assistant principal.  She served in this capacity until she was named principal of White Marsh Elementary School in 1995.  In 1998, Ms. Miluski took over the helm of Town Creek Elementary where she continues to serve as principal.

 Under Ms. Miluski’s leadership, Town Creek as received numerous academic awards including recognition from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) for student performance on the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program (MSPAP) and the Maryland School Assessment (MSA) in overall student improvement and overall student achievement.  In 2000, Town Creek was recognized as having the best 5th grade reading scores in the state on MSPAP.   During the 2006-2007 school year, Town Creek was listed by The Washington Post as one of the Top 100 Elementary School in Maryland based on the number of students scoring in the “advanced” category on MSA.  For the past three consecutive years, Town Creek has been named as a PBIS Exemplar School by MSDE. 

 “A very great measure of a principal’s success is the performance of her staff and her students,” wrote Mr. and Mrs. David Lowe, Town Creek Elementary School parents, in their letter of support for Ms. Miluski.  “Her (Ms. Miluski’s) staff is always prepared, professional, positive, and approachable.  The school test scores have been excellent.  All of this is a testament to Ms. Miluski’s leadership, dedication, and experience in the elementary education of our children.”

 During the last week of November, The Washington Post presented the award to Ms. Miluski and the other principals representing public school systems in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, as well as a private school principal in the Washington metropolitan area.