Once again, the East Baton Rouge Parish School System has garnered a national award.  At the 2010 Magnet Schools of America (MSA) Conference in Tampa today, May 4, Baton Rouge Magnet High School Principal Nanette McCann received the organization’s national 2010 Magnet Principal of the Year Award.

McCann was one of eight finalists nationwide who represented elementary, middle or high schools across the board.  McCann represents Region VI.  In addition to receiving a plaque, McCann was awarded $2,500 -- $1,000 for the school and $1,500 for her personal use.  The plaque states the award is “in recognition of an outstanding leader having succeeded in providing innovative programs that promote equity, diversity and academic excellence for students in magnet schools.”

“This is such an honor,” McCann said, “but the National Magnet School Principal of the Year Award represents the hard work and dedication of our school’s students, parents, faculty, staff and the community.”

Also today, Baton Rouge Magnet High School (Excellence) joins three other School System sites -- Sherwood Middle Magnet (Merit), South Boulevard Elementary Foreign Language Academic Immersion Magnet (Excellence) and Westdale Heights Magnet Elementary (Merit) schools --- in picking up MSA’s national awards.  “We are so pleased that the hard work of our students and educators is being recognized.  The students, parents and staff are all deeply committed to learning and strive daily to exemplify the goals of a magnet school,” McCann said.

The East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s 2009 High School Principal of the Year and the state’s 2009 Region II Principal of the Year, McCann has been in charge of the roughly 1,200-student school since 2002. Previously, she 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.  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 U.S. News and World Report.

Last month, McCann said, “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.”

Baton Rouge Magnet High School has a rich, long and proud history.  Built in 1928 to serve as a premier high school, Baton Rouge Magnet High School became a dedicated academic magnet high school in 1976, featuring honors and advanced placement courses as well as enhanced visual and performing arts and talented arts programs. 

The school is noted for its outstanding faculty, comprehensive course offerings and the excellence of its technology and multimedia opportunities.  A Blue Ribbon School, Baton Rouge Magnet High School offers a rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum that ensures success to all of its students.  It has built a solid reputation as one of the leading high schools in East Baton Rouge Parish and is propelled by its commitment to a diverse multi-cultural community.  The high school offers 18 Advanced Placement, 22 Honors and four foreign language courses. In addition, the school also maintains a strong curriculum in visual and performing arts, with special classes for those students identified as "talented."

Baton Rouge High has received the following awards:
• 2008 Magnet Schools of America
• 2007 College Readiness Award
• 2007 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics & Science Teaching
• 2007 Toshiba/NSTA Exploravision Award
• 2006 Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement
• 2006 Magnet Schools of America School of Distinction
• 2005 Magnet Schools of America School of Distinction
• 2004 Creative School Ticket of Excellence
• 2003 Blue Ribbon School

MSA sponsors programs, events, technical assistance, student scholarships, professional development and leadership through the National Institute for Magnet School Leadership (NIMSL).  There are about 4,000 magnet and theme-based schools across the United States. 

For more information about this award, contact McCann at (225) 936-8255 or Dr. Robert Brooks, executive director of Magnet Schools of America, (202) 374-9360.  For more information about MSA, visit www.magnet.edu.