Riverview Elementary School Principal Julia Mashburn was recently named the Georgia 2018 National Distinguished Principal and was awarded a check for $2,500 through the sponsorship of national K-12 publisher Mentoring Minds.
She will be honored along with her fellow state winners at the 2018 National Distinguished Principal event in October in Washington, D.C.
Mashburn was surprised with the recognition during a school assembly May 11.
“Mrs. Mashburn’s commitment to excellence is reflected in programs designed to meet the academic and social needs of all children and the establishment of community ties with parents and local business organizations,” said Hal Beaver, executive director of Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals. “She has put the progress and the well-being of every child at the forefront of school planning and operations and her students are on the road to a quality education because of her efforts.”
Mashburn has been the principal at RvES since it opened and always had a vision for the school.
With large populations of economically disadvantaged students and students with disabilities, she was determined to create a culture that impacted student and community success.
In 2016, Riverview received the Gold Award for the Georgia Governor’s Office of Student Achievement for “Greatest Gains,” and last year RvES was one of 13 schools to receive the GOSA Platinum Award for “Greatest Gains.”
These accomplishments have earned RvES the status of Georgia Highest Performing Title 1 Reward School in the top five percent of the state.
“When I got here four years ago I had the privilege of working with a lot of great team leaders and I’ve got to tell you that I literally dreamed of being an educator like Mrs. Mashburn is,” said Superintendent Damon Gibbs. “What a great role model she is for our teachers, our students and our other administrators – not only at the school level but at the district level.”
Under Mashburn’s leadership, the school has seen successes with the SPARK program, which promotes positive school culture, data teams that empower teachers to improve teaching and the PALS Mentoring Program, which pairs students with school staff to support encouragement and success for RvES students.
“I did not see this coming,” said Mashburn on Friday. “The only reason I am able to do this is because of the part you played in my life. I’ve told people ever since I came to Dawson County 28 years ago I might’ve been born in Atlanta but the Dawson County and the school system has truly raised me and I would not be able to do any of this without the authenticity and the encouragement and support from everyone that I see standing from the central office all the way down to all the staff, people and parents, and especially the children.”