Colleen Huston of Confidence Elementary has been selected to receive the first Putnam County Schools Administrator of the Year award. She will be Administrator of the Year for the 2005-2006 school year.

Before becoming principal of Confidence Elementary in 1999, Huston taught at Nitro Putnam, Rock Branch, and Poca Elementaries. She had prior experience in Kanawha County and at Cross Lanes Christian School. Huston holds a bachelor of arts in elementary education from Marshall University, a master of arts in early childhood education and a master of arts in leadership studies from Marshall University Graduate College.

Huston is a member of the Putnam County Reading Association, the Putnam County Principal's Association, a Mentor Principal, and a presenter at various county staff development programs. Additionally, she has been helped her teachers win ten monetary grants.

It comes as no surprise that Huston was singled out for this award. Under her leadership, Confidence has become a model for other rural schools striving for high achievement. Students at Confidence routinely rank among the highest achieving in West Virginia. This year they were recognized by the West Virginia Department of Education as meeting AYP, Best Among Peers, Above Mastery and Beyond, and Best in Closing the Achievement Gap In 2000, they were named a National Title I Distinguished School. Additionally, they received the title of West Virginia Exemplary School in 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2005. Recently, officials from the United States Department of Education visited Confidence to observe the practices that create such a high performing school.

Huston is modest about her accomplishments, but proud of the achievements of her school. She sees her role as both a leader and supporter: "I do everything in my power to enable my staff to do the best job they can do to provide the best education for our students," she stated. "Successful leadership includes...involving staff, parents, and community members in achieving the goals of the school and being an involved, visible part of the school," she said.

Huston will be honored along with the Putnam County Schools Service Employee of the Year and Teacher of the Year during opening of school ceremonies in the fall.