Irondale High School principal named a Principal of the Year

Irondale High School Principal Vichai Saefong has been named a Principal of the Year by the Minnesota Association of Secondary Principals (MASSP). For purposes of this award, MASSP divides Minnesota into eight regions, with each division selecting one representative for this annual recognition. Vichai represents the Capitol Division, which includes 93 schools in the East Metro. In December, a statewide selection board will review all eight finalists and choose one to represent Minnesota at the national level.

From the Minnesota Association of Secondary Principals (MASSP): 
Mr. Saefong has served as principal at Irondale High School for the past four years. During that time, he has demonstrated outstanding leadership, a commitment to student achievement, and a dedication to fostering a positive school culture. His colleagues share that “Mr. Saefong takes courageous, equity-centered risks to improve student learning in a richly diverse and economically mixed community. Rather than allowing demographics to predict outcomes, he has led Irondale to adopt a bold academic goal: 90% or more of grades in every demographic grouping will be A–C. That goal required confronting long-standing grading practices, challenging instructional habits, and publicly disaggregating data. It also required rebuilding staff belief  that such outcomes were possible.”  Additionally, his colleagues share that “his approach to collaboration is rooted in collective efficacy. Rather than centralizing decision-making, he has strengthened teacher leadership through a highly functional  Instructional Leadership Team that actively shapes professional development, analyzes subgroup data, and supports department-level implementation.”