Special to
L’Observateur

ALEXANDRIA, Va., — Ajit S. Pethe is among 61 outstanding elementary and middle school principals from across the nation and abroad who have been named as 2014 National Distinguished Principals by the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

Pethe is principal of Luling Elementary School. The NDPs will be honored Friday at an awards banquet at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, as part of a two-day program.

This year marks the 25th year that the program has been generously funded by VALIC. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will deliver opening remarks.

The program recognizes public and private school principals who make superior contributions to their schools and communities.

“These principals lead their school communities with courage and compassion,” Association Executive Director Gail Connelly said. “They represent the best and brightest of the more than 65,000 elementary and middle-level principals who are educating our nation’s children to their fullest potential.