Sandra Mitchell-Woods
Thomas C. Passios Outstanding Principal
National Distinguished Principal

Sandra Mitchell-Woods was nominated for the Thomas C. Passios Outstanding Principal of the Year Award by the Nathan Hale Elementary School Community. In preparing the nomination, they offered: “On September 7, 1999, a dynamic transformation was about to occur at the Nathan Hale School in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Ms. Mitchell-Woods was assigned as the new principal and since that time positive changes have occurred at our school.” A former Passios awardee, Mary Russo credits Sandy with understanding that “in order for a school to add value to the community, the community must be brought in to add value to the school. She has had remarkable success with this open and welcoming approach.” The principal of Nathan Hale School for ten years, Sandy is a dedicated principal who “works tirelessly to insure that each one of her students demonstrates a commitment to respect, collaboration and high expectations for themselves, as well as for each other.”

Sandy’s career in education began in 1977 as an elementary teacher in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Upon relocating to Massachusetts in 1988, she continued in her teaching career at the Marshall Elementary School in Dorchester followed by an interim Assistant Principal position at the Lee Elementary School. Moving steadily into school administration in 1993, she served as the Assistant Principal of the Mather Elementary School in Dorchester for six years and then principal of the Nathan Hale School.

The Nathan Hale School serves a predominantly low-income minority population with 85% of the students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Regardless, the school has been ranked among the top 100 schools in Massachusetts by Boston Magazine with over 50% of the students in the proficient or advanced categories. The school is “on target” in English/Language Arts and “above target” in Mathematics. Ms. Mitchell-Woods has led the community in believing that all children can achieve at high levels and the commitment of staff is evident in the many programs in place to support and nurture students along the path to academic achievement.

A key ingredient to success is in the strength of partnerships, and at the Nathan Hale School, partnerships are in place with many organizations including: The Boston Jewish Coalition, Fidelity Investments, Generations, Inc., Harvard University, Boston Partners in Education, Wheelock College, ReadBoston, Roxbury Community College, Urban Improv, Boston Ballet, City Dance, the Urban League, Bird Street After School Program, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Boston Schoolyard Initiative, Peace Games, Discovering Justice, Wainwright Bank, Boston Campaign for Proficiency, Northeastern University, Sports4Kids, Hawthorne After School Program, and Discover Roxbury. The benefits of these partnerships to the school and to the children served are countless.

Through the Fidelity Cares Program, employees and students in grades 3-5 have established pen pal relationships. According to Veronica Eghan of Fidelity, the “Write On” program provides Fidelity employees “with an opportunity to volunteer without leaving the workplace and the Nathan Hale students the opportunity to broaden their writing skills while communicating with positive and caring adults without leaving the classroom.”

Dr. Barry Sugarman has been a volunteer at Nathan Hale School for many years through the Greater Boston Jewish Coalition for Literacy. The Coalition sends a dozen volunteers into the school each week to serve as tutors to individual students. Dr. Sugarman shared that his group is one of many volunteer groups in the school that also include parents and other local residents. A retired university professor, Dr. Sugarman made an important observation – at times, under the pressures of NCLB to raise test scores, high achieving schools can become test-cramming environments “leaving kids with no love for learning and no intrinsic motivation.” Not so at the Nathan Hale School. According to Dr. Sugarman, Sandy trusts teachers to teach the
best way they know how – with planned scope and sequencing of curriculum but without central regimentation. She also ensures that teachers “meet regularly to review student assessments together, seek and give help on improved strategies, and to plan (and mainly provide) their own professional development.”

As a consultant to the school community for six years, Dr. Elaine Crowder served as a change and school improvement coach. Her relationship with the school community affords her a unique perspective on the leadership skills of Ms. Mitchell-Woods and her comments provide a clear representation of why Sandra Mitchell-Woods is the recipient of the 2009 Passios Outstanding Principal of the Year and the Massachusetts National Distinguished Principal Awards. “Ms. Mitchell-Woods has demonstrated she has an eye for talent and the skills to motivate that talent. She cares deeply about her staff, safeguards their time and interests, and supports their growth as teachers. One of her greatest strengths is in celebrating accomplishments of students and staff. Under (her) leadership, I have watched the Nathan Hale School mature into a learning community, one that has strong classroom teaching, improving student achievement, mature teacher leadership, committed parent involvement, and strong community support.”

Sandy lives in Methuen with the beauty of her dreams, the audacity of hope, and where everything is a miracle. She loves playing the piano, writing poetry, Pilates, a good joke and listening to classical music. Sandy’s inspiration comes from a circle of dear family and friends, and a professional learning community who have had an amazingly profound influence on her life. The relentless support, endless encouragement and remarkable faith in her countless abilities has shaped her life and allowed her to remember the spry spirit of her God-loving Mom, Elizabeth Kincaid Mitchell. “Believe in yourself” was her Mom’s ongoing voice of reason or “Never say can’t. Always try.”

At BEST, Sandy is humbled and forever grateful for her Mom’s positive attitude and wise instruction. Sandy’s future aspirations are to complete her doctorate degree and to become the President of a Black Historical College.

Past Passios Award Recipients