District principal, librarian honored for excellence

MAT-SU — Colony High School and Wasilla Middle School have something in common — both educational institutions have award-wining faculty.

Cyd Duffin, principal of Colony High School, and Veronica “Bonnie” Cavanaugh, librarian at Wasilla Middle School, recently received high honors for their work in the Alaska educational system.

The Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals recently announced that Duffin has been selected as the 2008 Principal of the Year. Although the title doesn’t come with a truckload of cash or international fame, Duffin said the award is more than an individual recognition.

“This award is really about Colony High School being a great place to be,” she said.

Duffin has been principal at Colony High since 2002. Before holding an administrative position in the Valley, she was a teacher and assistant principal with the Anchorage School District for 12 years.

Since becoming principal at Colony, Duffin said school administration and faculty has worked hard to improve the school’s learning environment. SHIELD, which stands for Staff Having Impact on Education Leadership and Direction, is one the programs making a difference at the school, she said.

Although principal of the year is a new accomplishment for Duffin, she has been recognized on a statewide level before. In fact, she was selected as the BP Teacher of Excellence in 1996 and Alaska Assistant Principal of the Year in 2002.

Duffin said she is excited and thankful, but there are many other principals in the Valley also deserving of recognition.

“I work with some phenomenally dedicated principals in this district,” she said. “My hat is off to them.”

Similar to Duffin, Bonnie Cavanaugh has also received recognition for her educational efforts. Earlier this month, the Association of School Librarians chose Cavanaugh as its 2008 School Librarian of the Year.

“It’s a big honor and it’s really humbling,” Cavanaugh said of the award.

Cavanaugh has been the librarian at Wasilla Middle School for eight years, but she has more than 23 years of experience. In the past, she has held positions at public libraries in Alaska, including the Anchorage Public Library.

While some may think being a librarian is a somewhat passive pursuit, Cavanaugh takes extra time and effort to help kids kick-start a life full of reading.

“Bonnie made it her personal mission to make sure every student loves books,” said Amy Spargo, principal at Wasilla Middle School. “It’s all about books for Bonnie.”

Spargo said she is pleased Cavanaugh is being recognized for her hard work. “I think she’s been the most deserving librarian for years, so I was thrilled.”

Cavanaugh said she spends a lot of personal time with students trying to find books or subject matter that catches their attention. Although it is easy to give a kid a book and tell him or her to read, it’s not so easy for a child to follow through if there is no interest. With that in mind, Cavanaugh talks to students to find out what would fit on their reading lists.

“Personally, it’s rewarding to see a kid become a reader,” she said. “And it’s pretty rewarding to have a kid tell you, ‘That’s the first book I’ve ever read cover to cover.’”

Although the librarian could work at other school libraries or a public library, Cavanaugh said she’s found a great place to work and read at Wasilla Middle School.

“We are really push reading in this school, so it’s a perfect fit for me,” she said.

Contact Chris Gillow at chris.gillow@frontiersman.com or 352-2284.