Grafton, Wisconsin - June 22, 2017 -  Mr. Michael Yurk, principal of St. Paul Lutheran School in Grafton was selected as a 2017 National Distinguished Principal. The National Association of Elementary School Principals established the program in 1984 to recognize and celebrate elementary and middle-level principals who set high standards for instruction, student achievement, character, and climate for the students, families, and staffs in their learning communities.

"Mr. Yurk was nominated and selected by his fellow principals through a nationwide search process conducted by The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS)," said Mr. Terry Schmidt, Director of Schools for the LCMS.

A graduate of Concordia University Wisconsin, Mr. Yurk previously held the position of Assistant Principal, Dean of Students and Athletic Director at Luther High School North in Chicago, IL. He has served as Principal of St. Paul Lutheran School since 2008. In October, Mr. Yurk and his wife will travel to Washington, D.C., for two days of activities planned to honor and bring well-deserved recognition to the elementary and middle-level educators chosen by the states, the District of Columbia, private and overseas schools.

Criteria for selection of the principals require that the honorees are active principals of schools where programs are designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students and where there are firmly established community ties with parents and local business organizations.

During Mr. Yurk's tenure at St. Paul Lutheran School, St. Paul has been honored with National Lutheran School Exemplary Status. Mr. Yurk was named the 2016-17 South Wisconsin District Administrator of the Year and was a finalist for the Herb Kohl Excellence in Education Leadership Award in 2017. Mr. Yurk currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Lutheran Educators Association (LEA).

Since its inception, the LCMS School Ministry has served as a Lutheran School professional educational association and now represents 2080 elementary school principals throughout the nation. The LCMS maintains close ties with the metropolitan Washington, D.C.-based National Association of Elementary School Principals and its 20,000 members worldwide.

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