Matt Saferite, Doctor of Education learner, was selected this summer as the Arkansas Secondary Principal of the Year as awarded by the Arkansas Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP).

Saferite, the principal of Ramay Junior High School (RJHS) in Fayetteville, Arkansas, was chosen out of a field of candidates from across the state for this distinguished award. He will be the state's nominee for the National Secondary School Principal (NASSP) of the Year program, for which MetLife and the Association of Secondary School Principals serve as sponsors.

"To work with a principal who not only leads by example but also encourages, guides, supports, and celebrates teaching and learning is an educator's dream," said RJHS staff member Cindy Caudle. "To attend a school where the principal not only encourages but expects students, staff, family members, and other stakeholders to identify and seek opportunities for personalizing one's educational experience is a student's dream. Our principal, Matt Saferite, is that type of leader."

"I trust that news of my recognition is taken at Bethel as evidence of the outstanding Ed.D. program that you all have established and are continuing to build," Saferite said. "From my perspective as a practicing public school administrator, the Ed.D. program is of exceptionally high quality."

In November, Saferite will attend the AASSP fall conference and be officially honored at the 2010 national award program hosted by NASSP and MetLife in Washington, D.C. later in the year.