Colorado College Bulletin

The Best Principal in the U.S.A.

By JANET BINGHAM

Palmer High School in downtown Colorado Springs once struggled with a high dropout rate, a negative community image and the threat of closure. But that didn't faze Jay Engeln '74, who took over as principal of the city's oldest school seven years ago.

Today the dropout rate is down, some of the area's top students are vying to enroll and Engeln is considered the best high school principal in the United States.

In October, he was named National Secondary School Principal of the Year for inspiring a "can-do'' attitude in staff and students that resulted in the school's dramatic turnaround.

"Jay Engeln has led the transformation of Palmer High School into one of Colorado's premier academic centers,'' said Colorado Springs Superintendent Kenneth Burnley. "His energy, dedication and leadership have inspired students and employees alike."

The award is sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, representing 45,000 middle and high school principals and assistant principals nationwide. Engeln traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive the award, including a grant of $10,000 for the school.

"I'm absolutely thrilled and overwhelmed,'' he said. "This is a tribute to the school. We wouldn't be where we are if it weren't for the staff and community and students of the school. I want them to help decide how to use these funds."

Palmer High's 1,900 students attend classes in four separate buildings on three city blocks. They come from a cross section of the city that includes some of the most affluent areas and some of the poorest. About 22 percent are minorities, and 26 percent qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

A variety of programs address the needs of numerous segments of the school population.To reduce failure among ninth graders, one program matches students with a staff team that includes a counselor and four teachers, one each in math, social studies, science and English.The faculty team members meet regularly to discuss ways they can help students; students and staff members are assigned to the same study hall so kids can get extra help.

The school's Career Academy Program helps students "see the relevancy of what they are learning and tie it into careers,'' said Engeln. For example, through a partnership with a local auto dealer, people wanting to trade in a car can let students prepare it for resale. The accounting class handles the billing.

The school also has a performing arts program, an International Baccalaureate program that draws students from throughout the city for rigorous academics, a night school and one of the largest high school alumni associations in the country.

When Engeln arrived at Palmer, the overall annual dropout rate for ninth- through 12th-graders was 8.4 percent, with higher dropout rates of 14.9 percent for Hispanics and 12.9 percent for African-Americans. Today those rates have declined to 5 percent for Hispanics, 3.9 percent for blacks and 3.5 percent overall.

Colorado Springs Mayor Mary Lou Makepeace, in a recommendation letter, said Engeln "has continually improved the performance of his school, making it one of the most desirable high schools in our community. ... This has been invaluable in maintaining a strong viable downtown, the goal of every mayor of every city."

Students describe a principal who is dedicated, passionate and fun. "Mr. Engeln's office door is always open,'' wrote 1999 Senior Class President Samantha Pelican. When students tried to collect 10,000 pounds of food, he challenged them by offering to shave his head if they were successful. "15,945 pounds later, he was bald!" reported Pelican.

Last year, Engeln rode his bicycle 324 miles across the state to raise money for school programs. Three years ago, he and some students dribbled soccer balls 20 miles up 14,110-foot Pikes Peak to raise funds for the school library.

Palmer High graduate Heather Matthews, now a sophomore at Williams College in Massachusetts, praised the way Engeln cares about and meets the needs of all students -- including her brother, who entered Palmer last year in the special education program.

Engeln's deep passion is "unmatchable," she wrote. "Whether it be a thoughtful knowing word, or dribbling a basketball up Pikes Peak ... Mr. Engeln infused me, and all those round him, with pride and enthusiasm."

Copyright 1999, The Denver Post. Reprinted with permission.

Engeln, who helped organize the first high school soccer team in Colorado Springs almost three decades ago and later was named National High School Soccer Coach of the Year (1985), has been elected president of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Jay's son, seventh grader James, sketched the portrait of his smiling dad that appears on the cover of the January/February issue of Soccer Journal.

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