Bismarck, ND – Stephanie Hochhalter, Assistant Principal at Lewis and Clark North Shore Plaza, has been honored as the North Dakota Assistant Principal of the Year by the North Dakota Association of Secondary School Principals (NDASSP). This prestigious recognition positions Hochhalter as a contender for the 2024 NASSP National Assistant Principal of the Year award.
Stephanie Hochhalter embarked on her educational journey as a mathematics educator at Gackle-Streeter in 2000. After a decade in the classroom, predominantly at Horizon Middle School in Bismarck, she transitioned into an administrative role as the secondary principal in Hebron in 2010. In 2020, she assumed the role of Assistant Principal at Lewis and Clark North Shore Plaza. Hochhalter holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics education and a master's in educational leadership, both earned at the University of Mary.
About NASSP: Founded in 1916, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) serves as the premier organization and national advocate for middle-level and high school principals, assistant principals, and emerging school leaders across the United States and more than 45 countries worldwide. NASSP's mission centers on promoting excellence in school leadership. Its programs include the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Association of Student Councils. The North Dakota Association of Secondary School Principals (NDAESP), the local state affiliate established in 1951, boasts a membership of approximately 95% of the state's secondary and middle school principals. NDAESP also oversees ND Academic All-State, ND State Student Council, and ND Acalympics.
The NASSP National Assistant Principal of the Year initiative annually acknowledges outstanding assistant principals in middle-level and high schools for their commitment to providing exceptional learning opportunities. These assistant principals receive recognition from their peers for their significant contributions to the profession.
Each state, including the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity, and the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools, nominates one assistant principal to represent their jurisdiction. A distinguished panel consisting of former state principals of the year, industry leaders, and NASSP staff evaluates the applications of these state winners. The top three finalists become contenders for the National Assistant Principal of the Year award. The NASSP National Assistant Principal of the Year will be chosen from among these finalists.