Stonington — Alicia Sweet Dawe, principal of West Vine Street School in Pawcatuck, has been selected as Elementary School Principal of the Year by the Connecticut Association of Schools.

She will receive the award at the statewide "Celebration of Distinguished Administrators" to be held on Oct. 23 at Saint Clements Castle in Portland. The program recognizes outstanding school principals who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students.

Appointed in 2013 to serve as principal of the West Vine and West Broad Street schools, Dawe was splitting her time between two buildings prior to the consolidation of the two schools into the new West Vine Street School, which she refers to as the "64,000-square-foot dream school." 

"I am extremely honored and humbled to receive this award," Dawe said Thursday. "It represents the unwavering teamwork among my students, staff, and families to provide the very best outcomes and learning environment for all of our students. I am thrilled to bring this award home to them as it shines a spotlight on the incredible work of this amazing community."

Dawe, 47, of South Kingstown, R.I., has worked all but one year of her education career in the Stonington school district. She started as a college intern and said she held every job in the system, including paraprofessional and tutor. She was hired as a classroom teacher in 1996 and taught at Deans Mill School for 14 years. She was assistant principal of Deans Mill, West Broad and West Vine schools for two years before becoming principal. She worked for one year in the Voluntown schools, which she described as a rewarding experience with wonderful coworkers.

Stonington Superintendent of Schools Van W. Riley, who had hired Dawe as principal in 2013, nominated her for the Principal of the Year award.

"Alicia hit the ground running with her high energy, focus on successful achievement for every single student, and commitment to making her schools the very best," he said in a news release. "And, thanks to her collaborative and mission-driven leadership and her laser-like focus on student and school data, the results of her efforts were immediate."

She oversaw construction of the new building, having a hand in every facet of the project from design to layout to colors and furniture.

In 2014, West Broad Street School was recognized by the Connecticut State Department of Education as a "School of Distinction" for highest performing subgroup in academic achievement.

She has spearheaded several initiatives, including the after-school STEM clubs for third- and fourth-graders; the Summer Academy, which jumpstarts learning for students prior to a new school year; the Unified sports, arts and social clubs to help students with special needs learn skills and develop meaningful relationships with their regular education peers; and, the student-led VOICE program, which connects Stonington High School students with fourth-graders through leadership activities and communication forums.

Dawe also started the Family and Community Collaborative, a series of monthly workshops on "hot topics" of interest to parents and families. Dawe's colleagues say the program has led to a dramatic increase in community support in school activities. 

"All of these experiences have brought new, untraditional learning opportunities that have furthered my understanding, appreciation and education as an administrator for the benefit of my students, community and staff," Dawe said.

Assistant Principal Kathryn Irvine said Dawe exudes a passion for making parents and students feel welcome at the schools.

"It is my honor every day to work beside Alicia to lead our school to be a model of excellence where staff and students love to learn, feel valued and empowered, and work together to promote a climate of high expectations and inclusion for all," Irvine said. 

Ann-Marie Houle, a West Vine Street School parent and a teacher at Stonington High School, said, "Day in and day out, Alicia wears many hats and tackles them all effortlessly and with grace. She takes it upon herself to make sure that each student is challenged inside the classroom. The children leave every day better than when they entered."

Nominees for Principal of the Year submit a written application which is evaluated by a selection committee consisting of active and retired principals and assistant principals. Site visits are conducted at the schools of the two highest-rated candidates at each level: elementary, middle and high. Winners then are chosen based on the outcome of the site visit as well as the quality of the written application.

Dawe will represent Connecticut in the National Distinguished Principals Program sponsored by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. One principal is chosen annually from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. Principals representing private kindergarten through eighth grade schools, Department of Defense Dependents' Schools and the U.S. Department of State Overseas Schools also are recognized. The national recognition events will take place in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 10-11, 2019.

 k.florin@theday.com