Stephen Hockett, principal at McNair Elementary School and 16-year employee of Fairfax County Public Schools, was recently named FCPS 2006 Principal of the Year.
From his Sunshine Emergency drills, where the entire school reads outdoors for 20 minutes on sunny days, to Crazy Hair Day, Hawaiian Shirt Day or monthly Spirit Fridays, Hockett creates and actively participates in a warm, welcoming atmosphere at school that makes learning fun for students.
Before joining McNair, Hockett was the principal for Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences from 1999 until August 2005. He is praised for his leadership and his open-door policy where he establishes an atmosphere of acceptance and inclusion for all students.
Also the recipient of the Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leadership Award, Hockett is one of 20 principals representing the 19 public school systems in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and private schools–selected by the Washington Post for the award. The Distinguished Educational Leadership Award recognizes principals who go beyond the day-to-day responsibilities of their jobs to create exceptional educational environments.