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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