News: Cedar Lane's Dallas 2012 Principal of the Year

(April 6, 2012) - James E. Dallas, the principal of Cedar Lane Elementary School, is this year’s recipient of The Washington Post’s Distinguished Educational Leadership Award for Loudoun County.

This award also serves as Loudoun County’s Principal of the Year Award.


Dallas has served as Cedar Lane’s principal since 2007.

Dallas’ positive attributes and leadership skills were highlighted in the nomination letters he received for this award.

“Mr. Dallas always walks around the school and he knows every student, parent and teacher by name,” wrote fifth-grader Daniel Blose. “He teaches us life lessons every time he comes into the classroom and tells us about how he remembers learning the things we are being taught, and what he would do to ‘ace’ the test. He says ‘The test is not hard unless you make it hard.’ It is easy to see how much he cares about the school, the teachers and the students as he is always talking to us and encouraging us.”

“It is not unusual to see Mr. Dallas in my classroom, crouched down next to one of my little ones, asking them what they are working on,” wrote first grade teacher Debbie Ragan. “My students have come to expect Mr. Dallas in our classroom, eager to see what great things they are accomplishing and anxious to hear their thoughts. He instills a great sense of pride in my students by setting expectations for quality hard work and thoughtful answers to the question of
‘What are you working on?’ ”

“Mr. Dallas always puts kids first,” wrote PTA President Jackie Foster. “When discussing PTA events he will often say ‘It’s for the children.’ It is not uncommon to find Mr. Dallas standing in the Kiss ’n’ Go line greeting students and opening car doors or sitting in a classroom helping students. Over the summer, I was in a meeting with Mr. Dallas and he asked if I could wait until he took a child home from summer school because the parents didn’t have a vehicle. I felt honored knowing that my children attend a school where there is a principal that cares so deeply about the students and their education.”

“I often wonder if there is more than one of him as he seems to be there when I drop my child off at school, he is impeccably responsive to my e-mails and is often seen escorting a child on a ‘sensory break’ through the halls,” wrote parent Keri Schoenbrun. “He is in and out of the classrooms every time I am there for my weekly hour of volunteer service. I recently asked my first-grader ‘Who is Mr. Dallas?’ He replied by saying, ‘He is the leader of my school.’ I was impressed to hear my son describe Mr. Dallas as a leader, rather than refer to him just as the principal (which may or may not have meaning to him at his age). I went on to ask ‘What do you like about Mr. Dallas?’ My son replied ‘He is always coming into the classroom to be with the kids. When I see him in the hallway, he says hi to me.’ In the words of a first-grader, Mr. Dallas continues to play an active role in the classroom.”

“Mr. Dallas values our ideas and our thoughts,” wrote fifth-grader Alex Schwind. “He has an open dialogue with us. As captain of the Patrols, he asks my opinions about Patrol of the Month. He listens to my concerns. Mr. Dallas also gets ideas from parents at PTA meetings and listens to students who are on Student Council. We did not have a Student Council or elections before Mr. Dallas came. He also started the Student Ambassador program and has a Citizen of the Month ceremony that parents can come to. He wants to recognize all students.”

The fact that Dallas is a hands-on principal was cited in several nomination letters.

“Whether he is vacuuming or explaining learning progressions, Mr. Dallas brings the same amount of dedication and commitment to each task,” wrote ELL teacher Mary A. Nowinski. “His work ethic is a wonderful example to students and teachers alike.”

“He encourages teachers to be creative and frequently will show up in a classroom for (an) activity in support of the creative endeavor of the teacher,” wrote librarian Andria Donnelly. “He engages in the activity himself and participates with enthusiasm and (offers) encouragement towards students who may need some extra support. For example, he partnered himself with a very shy student to complete an encyclopedia scavenger hunt.”

Dallas also was praised for his communication skills.

“Parents of Cedar Lane students love to speak with Mr. Dallas,” Assistant Principal Matthew Burns wrote. “His door is always open…Parents understand that he truly listens. When a parent concern is brought to his attention, he works diligently to address the concern in a manner that will benefit the student.

“Mr. Dallas has a strong relationship with all Cedar Lane parents, yet he has formed a very strong relationship with the parents of students with special needs. Parents of students with special needs know that Mr. Dallas understands the definition of a community and they know he truly believes that each and every member of the Cedar Lane community is a valued member.”
Meredith Leach, a former student at Briar Woods High School, works at Cedar Lane and wrote this about Dallas: “I know high school is hard because it is hard for me to know things. Mr. Dallas has been so nice to me when I graduated from high school. He lets me come to Cedar Lane because he knows I love children…I help kids that need stuff…Most of all, I think he cares about me and he loves me! I love him!”

Staff members also noted Dallas’ willingness to work with them in achieving their goals.

“Mr. Dallas allows me to make important decisions about what I think is necessary for the team to maintain a clean, safe building,” wrote head custodian Paula Ayala. “He trusts me with those decisions and lets me be creative when I feel that I need to be. He supports me and the team…

“Not only does Mr. Dallas support me and the custodial team at work, he also supported and encouraged me when I was taking classes to further my education. Mr. Dallas worked with me on a schedule that would allow me to attend classes.”

Before coming to Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), Dallas was principal of Hybla Valley Elementary in Fairfax County. He also was an assistant principal at William Haley Elementary; a staff development specialist; and a teacher at Fairview Elementary, all in Fairfax County. He holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Tech. Dallas also obtained his administration certification from Virginia Tech.

Past winners of The Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leadership Award include*:
• Mary Lee Phelps (1986)
• Bernice M. Nicewicz (1987)
• William L. Whitmore Jr. (1988)
• Frances R. Fera (1989)
• Terrence W. Hill (1990)
• Dennis A. Young (1991)
• Kenneth W. Culbert (1992)
• Michael A. Megeath (1993)
• Ronald E. Dyer (1994)
• James E. Person (1996)
• Mary B. Morris (1997)
• Wayne C. Mills (1998)
• Charles J. Haydt (1999)
• Laurie C. McDonald (2000)
• Nancy E. McManus (2001)
• Dr. Virginia M. Minshew (2002)
• Dr. Edgar T. Markley (2003)
• Dr. Susan P. Browning (2004)
• Dr. Jack Robinson (2005)
• Margaret Huckaby (2006)
• Eric L. Stewart (2007)
• Paul Vickers (2009)
• Dr. John Brewer (2010)
• Timothy J. Flynn (2011)

*No award was presented in 1995 or 2008.