A matter of principal

FIRTH - During the past year Firth Norris Middle School Principal Barry Stark has traveled to 20 states and five countries, given speeches and presentations and even testified before a congressional subcommittee.

It’s all part of the job, as he is serves as president of the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

“I still pinch myself. Here I am in Firth and I represent 30,000 principals nationwide. I take tremendous pride in that,” Stark said.

He said he is the 92nd president of the association, which was organized in 1916. The primary functions of the NASSP are to advocate for principals and provide professional development.

So far as president, Stark said he has been to 20 states to speak at state association meetings, as well as traveled to Spain, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and China to represent the NASSP at international principal and educational conferences.

“When I’m speaking to represent NASSP I give presentations on what’s happening with the national association and the issues facing principals,” he said.

Stark said he has four prepared speeches that he can use for presentations, which he updates with whatever has happened in the association.

In April alone, he said he only spent four days at Norris as his duties with NASSP took him to the spring board meeting in Washington, D.C., as well as a tip to China, Montana and Louisiana for other presentations.

Stark said the most memorable experience of his time as president was testifying before a congressional education and labor subcommittee.

“I was there to talk about the principals’ position on No Child Left Behind,” he said.

Another highlight was working with the U.S. Senate Youth program, which brings the top two students from each state, based on the program’s requirements, to Washington, D.C., to participate in a conference.

Stark said the students had the chance to hear high-ranking government officials speak and participate in other events.

“Listening to those kids, our country is in great hands,” he said. “It was encouraging to hear how those kids discuss issues and the goals they have for their own futures.”

Just this week, on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Stark said he got to be in Washington, D.C., for the political spirit of community awards.

That event is for students from each state to be recognized for a community service project they developed, he said.

“It was phenomenal. Some of the projects had international ramifications. All of them were oriented to helping their local area,” Stark said.

Stark said he’s been a member of NASSP since 1973, when he first became an administrator.

“I decided to run for the national board in 2002,” he said.

He was elected to an at-large middle-level principal position and served a four-year term.

“In my third year, I became interested in running for president-elect at the end of my board term,” Stark said.

He did and was elected, serving as president-elect during the 2006-07 year.

Stark said the president-elect position wasn’t quite as intensive, as he probably spent 15 days traveling to different states representing the NASSP and attending national association events.

Then on July 1, 2007, his term as president began, and will continue until July 1 of this year.

Stark said without the support of the Norris district he would not have had this opportunity. For his service, NASSP will reimburse the district for Stark’s salary, he said.

He said within the middle school building, the staff has adjusted well to his absence, as Mary Jo Rupert has stepped into the position of acting middle school principal, a position she will hold fully after Stark retires at the end of the school year.

“Our staff has responded well,” Stark said.

Other than the opportunity to be a principal and work with teachers and students, serving as NASSP has been a big highlight.

“Other than being a principal, this has been the highlight of my professional life,” Stark said.