Katie Dunlap was nominated anonymously.
"I wanted to take a moment to sing the praises of Katie Dunlap, our delightful principal here at Pevely Elementary School. You see, Katie's not just your average principal; she's like the MVP of positivity and progress," said the nominator.
"Let's talk about this Anchor Room she cooked up. It's like our secret weapon against chaos and confusion. When students feel adrift or struggle with their behavior, they can drop anchor there. It's a safe harbor where they can regroup, find their bearings, and set sail again on the right course. And you know what? It's working like a charm! Thanks to Katie's brainchild, we've seen a sea change in student behavior, and that's no small feat," said the nominator.
"But here's the thing: Katie's impact doesn't stop with the kiddos. Oh no, she's got this magical aura that spreads like sunshine across the whole school. The atmosphere here at Pevely has gone from good to great, all thanks to her infectious positivity and unwavering leadership. Teachers and staff alike are walking around with an extra pep in their step, and it's all because of Katie's commitment to making this place the best it can be," said the nominator.
"And let me tell you about that smile of hers. It's like a sunlight of joy that guides us through even the stormiest days. As one wise student put it, "Our principal always has a smile on her face!" And you know what? It's contagious! Coming to work feels less like a chore and more like a privilege when you've got someone like Katie leading the charge," said the nominator.
"In closing, Katie Dunlap is the real deal. She's got a proven track record of making a positive difference in students' lives, she's a master at shaping the school's atmosphere for the better, and her leadership skills are second to none. Plus, she's as ethical and morally sound as they come. Katie is someone who should have the spotlight shine on," said the nominator.
Katie Dunlap is an incredible leader who makes our school a positive and supportive place for both staff and students. She always goes out of her way to make teachers feel valued, understood, and appreciated, whether it’s through her daily check-ins, kind words, or the way she truly listens to and supports us. Her energy, dedication, and love for education are contagious, and it makes such a difference in our school. She is a true life changer! I feel so lucky to work under her leadership, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award.
Katie is the most amazing principal. She makes being a teacher at Pevely so much fun and exciting. I always feel so supported by her when I need to talk with her about school or life. She truly is one of a kind and I love having her as my administrator.
Katie Dunlap is an amazing administrator and leader for our school. Some of her strengths include being extremely organized, greeting staff and students, communicating with all stakeholders, and showing compassion and understanding. In the past three years of working at Pevely, some very amazing changes have taken place in our school, which can be credited to her hard work and passion as a leader. She is deeply invested in students' success in our school, is open-minded, and listens to what the staff needs or recommends. Everyone's voice is heard and considered when making changes for our school. I have learned a lot from her, and I appreciate the hard work that she puts into each day at Pevely Elementary.
Katie Dunlap is extremely organized and communicates consistently with staff, parents, and our community. Whether it's the weekly newsletter, a daily memo she sends out, or a friendly "Hello" to greet us at our classroom, Ms. Dunlap makes her presence seen and felt throughout the school. She is charged with running our elementary building that houses over 120 staff members with around 800 students on any given day. Katie goes out of her way to constantly shine positive light on our staff members and school, by posting things on multiple social media outlets on a daily basis. With Teacher Proud Tuesday's, it seemed every teacher in our building received a shout out- where she took the time to let our community know all the great things each teacher does for students. Ms. Dunlap deserves recognition for her hard- working, positive leadership, and I appreciate her dedication to our school!
Katie is such a great principal and makes her staff feel very comfortable and supported. She is very deserving of this award! When I started at Pevely 2 years ago, she was so sweet and offered so much help. She still continues to do that all the time. She is always interested in what is going on in the classrooms and offers up so much praise. She always has a smile on her face and makes people feel welcome when they come into our school. I absolutely love working for her and am blessed with her leadership.
Ms. Dunlap is very deserving of this award! She goes above and beyond to ensure her staff feels supported at all times. I have worked at a few different elementary schools around the country and she is the best principal I have ever had by far! She is so personable and always has a smile on her face. I love that others get to see how remarkable of not just our school leader but a person she is and such a pleasure to be around at work! I am so grateful to have her as our principal !
Katie has made and continues to make a positive impact on so many lives. That impact extends far beyond academics. As a principal, she is deeply committed to the success of the students, constantly researching and seeking ways to improve learning and ensure teachers have the resources they need. Katie works hard to make every student and staff member feel seen, valued, and supported. On any given day, you might find her playing rock, paper, scissors with a student in the lunchroom, proudly sharing the accomplishments of others on social media, or sitting quietly with a student who is struggling. She celebrates successes, supports those facing challenges, and fosters a culture of encouragement and high expectations.
She leads by example—whether jumping into a freezing dunk tank to support our parent-teacher organization, cooking chicken nuggets in the cafeteria when staff is out due to illness, or organizing events that bring our community together. She sees what needs to be done and she steps up to the plate. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and continuous improvement sets her apart. She never stops learning and truly wants our students and staff to thrive. She understands the importance of creating an environment where students, teachers, and all staff feel safe, supported, and motivated to do their best. We are proud of our school, our community, and of our principal, Katie Dunlap. Her leadership, dedication, and heart have made an incredible impact on our school, and she is truly deserving of this award.
Ms. Dunlap is very deserving of this award! She goes above and beyond to ensure her staff feels supported at all times. I have worked at a few different elementary schools around the country and she is the best principal I have ever had by far! She is so personable and always has a smile on her face. I love that others get to see how remarkable of not just our school leader but a person she is and such a pleasure to be around at work! I am so grateful to have her as our principal !
I have had the pleasure of working for Ms. Dunlap in two different roles. In each of these roles , she has consistently made me feel supported and appreciated . She always has a positive demeanor and consistently offers assistance where she is able. Aside for working for her, I really appreciate, as a parent in the district, how communicative she is with information regarding Pevely Elementary.
Mrs. Dunlap is such a ray of sunshine here at Pevely Elementary. She is always willing to go the extra mile for her teachers and students. We are so thankful to have her as our principal! She truly is a life changer!
I’m proud to support Ms. Dunlap for this nomination. Her positivity, leadership, and influence have created a supportive, thriving environment for staff, students, and the community. She truly works hard to make a lasting impact on our school community. I feel very fortunate to work in her building as a teacher.
Ms. Dunlap is everything mentioned in her nomination and more. She is such a positive influence on our school family and stops at nothing to ensure we all feel supported! I’m so grateful to work alongside Ms. Dunlap everyday!
I met Ms. Katie Dunlap for the first time I joined Mrs. Chelsie Cottner for Family Read Day in the Anchor Room. Mrs. Cottner is my daughter. I fell in love the first time I met Katie. I immediately noticed her infectious smile and positive attitude, her friendly and helpful ways which sailed throughout her school, and how the teachers and students loved her! It was easy to see why as I joined the crew feeling the same way. Katie Dunlap is extremely deserving of this recognition! Not only has she earned it, I believe she comes by it naturally as her personality exudes it. ??
I could not agree more with the nomination! Katie is truly amazing to work for, and with! I love her positivity and infectious smile.
As Katie’s secretary I can attest to everything that was said my the person who nominated her. Always a smile on her face, honest and upright, and a joy to work for.
Mrs. Dunlap is the best! You never see her without a smile on her face! She is a great advocate for her students and teachers. She always makes the time to answer questions and make sure parents feel heard. We appreciate her so much!
As the district's communications director, I want to share more about the Anchor Room mentioned in the nominating form. If an elementary student is having a bad day, the teacher sends an email to the Anchor Room. A paraprofessional visits the classroom and picks up the child. They go to the Anchor Room to work through the issues and make up any missing school work. There is no set time limit, but the objective is to get them in the right frame of mind to return to the classroom. The paraprofessional will notify the parents about their child's visit, and the teacher will call them after school. The assistant principals oversee and often help, depending on the situation. Having an Anchor Room has cut the number of referrals in half. This program was recently presented at the annual conference of the Missouri School Board Association. Additionally, I wrote an article about it in the district's Blackcat News linked below.
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