The national Magnet Schools of America (MSA) has named Nanette McCann, principal of Baton Rouge Magnet High School, its Regional 2010 Principal of the Year.  McCann will represent Region VI at the National Conference on Magnet Schools May 2-5 in Tampa.  Each regional winner will be recognized at the conference, and a national winner, who receives $1,000 for the school, $500 for him/herself and a plaque, also will be announced.

Each year, Magnet Schools of America recognizes an outstanding school leader in each of the MSA's regions who has succeeded in providing innovative programs that promote equity, diversity and academic excellence for students in magnet schools.  This comes right on the heels of Baton Rouge Magnet High School also earning the Magnet Schools of America’s Magnet School of Excellence Award.  The school also is in competition now for several cash awards and will be recognized at the conference.

The East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s 2009 High School Principal of the Year, McCann has been in charge of the roughly 1,200-student school since 2002, previously was assistant principal of Tara High School, an administrative intern at Baker High School and Writing Center coordinator and English teacher at Capitol Senior High School.  She holds a Master of Education degree from Southeastern Louisiana University and a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana Tech University.

The 2005 YWCA Woman of Achievement in Education winner, McCann is an executive voting member of the College Board.  In addition, her professional memberships include several organizations, such as Magnet Schools of America and most recently she was inducted into the Tulane University Alumni Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, an International Honor Society in Education.  In addition to its Magnet excellence award, McCann’s high school has won the Magnet Schools of America Schools of Distinction Award three consecutive times, the Blue Ribbon Schools of Distinction award,  the National Creative Ticket School of Distinction award and was named among America’s Best High Schools in a recent issue of US News and World Report.  McCann also was named the state’s 2009 Region II Principal of the Year.

“Since the students are the focal point for the success of the total school program, I view my role as motivator, innovator and a catalyst for change.  What better way to serve in this role than by finding new ways to continuously personalize the learning environment for students and teachers at my school!  My motto is ‘to do whatever it takes for the students and teachers to be successful,’” McCann said.  For more information about this regional award, contact Dr. Robert Brooks, executive director of Magnet Schools of America, (202) 374-9360.