(Washington, DC) – Two District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) educators will be recognized for excellence by The Washington Post and will receive prestigious awards for their service.
Janeece Docal, principal of Powell Elementary School and DCPS’ 2014 Principal of the Year, is one of 20 recipients of the 2015 Distinguished Educational Leadership Award.
The metro-area educators recognized for this honor were chosen by their school systems for demonstrated leadership abilities and a commitment to creating an exceptional educational environment for students, faculty and staff, among many other attributes. See the full list of winners.
Dionne Hammiel, a teacher at John Burroughs Education Campus in Ward 5, is one of 20 recipients of the 2015 Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Awards. Winning educators were chosen by their school system for exemplifying excellence in teaching, fostering cooperative relationships with their colleagues and community, and contributing in a substantive way to the improvement of education in the Washington area. See the full list of winners.
“Excellent teachers and school leaders have the power to inspire students to greatness, empower them to take ownership of their education, and change life outcomes,” DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson said. “These two outstanding educators have done amazing work in their schools and deserve this honor. Congratulations to Principal Docal and Ms. Hammiel!”
Winners of the 2015 Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Awards will be honored during a ceremony at The Washington Post on Tuesday, May 19. Winners of the 2015 Distinguished Educational Leadership Award will be honored during a ceremony at The Post on Tuesday, May 5. Winners in both categories will receive a personalized trophy, a monetary award and mentions in The Washington Post Magazine and on The Post’s site.
Hammiel, a kindergarten teacher at Burroughs EC for the past 15 years, sets high expectations for her students and takes creative approaches to subject matter to engage students at all levels. A former Orr Elementary School student and graduate of Wilson High School, Hammiel, 37, started her career in education as a social worker in local day-care center before becoming a teacher in a Head Start program.
Docal, who has served as Powell ES principal since the 2009-2010 school year, began her time in school leadership as an Assistant Principal at the Columbia Heights Education Campus, where she was previously an educator for nine years. In her tenure, Powell ES has doubled its enrollment, significantly increased student proficiency and become a strong neighborhood school because of Docal’s leadership and vision for the bilingual school.
The Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Awards, formed in 1983, recognize pre-kindergarten-12 teachers who ensure students receive a high-quality education through first-class and creative instruction. The Distinguished Educational Leadership Awards were established in 1987 and honors principals who go beyond the daily responsibilities of their position to create an exceptional educational environment through dedicated leadership.
In presenting these awards, The Washington Post hopes to encourage excellence in school leadership and to contribute to the improvement of education in the Washington metropolitan area.