Jayme Braida of Knoxville who is the principal of Columbus Elementary School in Chariton, has been named as one of 43 exemplary elementary and middle-level principals from across the nation to receive the award of 2025 NAESP National Distinguished Principal (NDP) by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP).

The pre-K-8 principals travel to the nation’s capital  this week to participate in two days of events that culminate in an awards banquet to honor their accomplishments. The program is held at The Willard InterContinental in Washington, D.C.

“School principals continue to show exceptional adaptability and creativity in meeting the changing needs of students and staff,” said NAESP Executive Director L. Earl Franks, Ed.D., CAE. “The 2025 NAESP NDPs exemplify this resilience and leadership well beyond the status quo. Congratulations to this outstanding class of deserving school leaders.”

Since 1984, the NDP program has recognized public and private school principals who make superior contributions to their schools and communities and has given them the opportunity to share best practices with each other. NAESP state affiliates selected these 43 principal honorees, who join 2,364 principals before them who have also been recognized as NAESP NDPs.

Criteria for selection of the principals require that the honorees are active principals of schools where programs are designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students and where there are firmly established community ties with parents and local business organizations.