Lanphier high school assistant principal named Horace Mann administrator of the year
A District 186 official known as "School Mom" has been named as Horace Mann Administrator of the year.
Alicia Miller, assistant principal at Lanphier high school, was honored with a crystal award and a $500 check at a surprise celebration at the school on Wednesday afternoon.
"I’m super shocked, I was actually rooting for one of my colleagues who was nominated with me,” Miller said. “I believe what we do in life is a calling and we do it out of service, so I wasn’t expecting this because everything I do. I just do it from my heart.”
More: Cinco De Mayo Fiesta, Kentucky Derby watch party on tap in Springfield this weekend
Jim Hayes of Harvard Park Elementary and Patricia Nikson of Fairview Elementary school were finalists for the award and received $250. Superintendent Jennifer Gill said she’s witnessed Miller’s leadership in action and that it was an pleasure to honor her.
“She cares about every student she works with and their families and she wants to see the staff and faculty thrive,” Gill said. “ She has so much enthusiasm and works well with everyone so it's a really great thing to see her get this honor.”
Miller is from Chicago but has worked for Springfield District 186 in a variety of administrative roles over the past 21 years. She earned her masters degree in social work from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and an administrator certificate from the University of Illinois Springfield.
Miller said she uses her social work clinical experience to cater not only to the socio-emotional wellbeing of her students but her colleagues as well.
"If we don’t take care of the adults in our schools then they won’t be able to do what they need to ensure that our youth are prepared to go out into society and be good citizen," she said. "You have to make sure you're in a position to take care of the people who work for you so they can do their jobs."
This is Miller's second year at Lanphier and students say her nurturing spirit and enthusiasm is why they call her school mom.
She said her philosophy as an administrator is to be a bringer of joy.
"I’m always energetic and cheesing, and I greet people by name," Miller daid. "If anyone is having a hard time with hair or clothes, I have supplies and I'm here to assist so my students can get what they need. "
Miller is a woman of Delta Sigma Theta sorority incorporated and was honored in front of her sorority sisters, students, staff and faculty at the celebration.
An independent panel of Springfield-area community and education leaders selects the Educator of the Year, Administrator of the Year, and the Rising Stars as part of the Horace Mann sponsored program.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Lanphier assistant principal named administrator of the year
