Deborah Spicer, principal of Hurricane Town Elementary School, celebrates her twenty-second year in Putnam County Schools by being named Putnam County Schools' Administrator of the Year for 2006-2007. Spicer has been a school administrator since 1998.

Spicer began her career in Monongalia County as an elementary and middle school special educator. She came to Putnam County as an educational diagnostician in 1984. In 1998, she became assistant principal at Poca Middle School, and in 2000, was named principal at Hometown Elementary. She moved to HurricaneTown in 2003.

Under her leadership, Hometown Elementary was named a National Title I School and both Hometown and Hurricane Town Elementaries have achieved Exemplary School status.

Spicer holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education, a master's degree in specific learning disabilities from Marshall University, and a master's degree in educational administration from the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies. She is a member of the West Virginia Education Association, the National Education Association, and the Putnam County Principal's Association.

Spicer's leadership philosophy is evidenced in her professional practice. "I believe an educational leader is a lifelong learner and motivator of students, staff, and parents," she states. In her own "lifelong learning," Spicer continuously reads, studies, leads, and attends educational activities. This year she attended a reading research symposium, a Six Traits Writing workshop, math Investigations training, and a seminar on modifying instructional time to enhance learning. Additionally, she leads book study groups, school data analysis, and writing assessment workshops.

Spicer connects with her staff and community to provide the support they need to help students. "My beliefs are demonstrated by my personal leadership style of 'be there'. My students, staff, and parents must see that I believe and value our goals enough to give all I have," she says. Along with her talented staff and supportive community, Spicer credits tireless efforts to improve instruction and use all resources and strengths of the school and community with making Hurricane Town Elementary "an educational family that we can all be proud to be part of."

Those same efforts have resulted in the recognition of Deborah Spicer as Administrator of the Year for Putnam County Schools for 2006-2007.