By Jessica Blomquist
Staff Writer

Morgan County Middle School principal Dr. Joe Hutcheson was the recipient of the Mike Campbell Exemplary Leadership Award this summer. He was presented the award at the July 15 statewide meeting of the Georgia Association of Middle School Principals at Jekyll Island.

“I’m just honored,” Hutcheson said, who was nominated by members of the faculty.

The Mike Campbell Exemplary Leadership Award is meant to “recognize outstanding educators, who, through their vision and leadership have contributed to higher educational standards. The contributions of these leaders can be measured in improvements in the areas of rigor, relevance, and/or relationships within a school and/or system.”

Campbell is an administrator with nearly 40 years of experience at the middle and high school levels. He has also served two terms as president of the GAMSP.

To be qualified to win the award, a principal must: “serve in an administrative position that directly impacts middle level education, have served a minimum of two years in this capacity, presently serve in that position the year the award is given, and be a member of GAMSP and the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders.”

Hutcheson does not take all the credit for his award.

“The award belongs to the school,” Hutcheson said. “One individual does not make a difference; it’s the group that makes a difference in a child’s life.”
In addition to the Mike Campbell award, Hutcheson also accepted the Effective Program award for the middle school’s 10-year-old reading program, Guided Reading. The GAMSP recognized two schools with this award.

“Our reading scores have always increased because of this extensive reading program we do with our students,” Hutcheson said. “That’s extremely rewarding to us.”