Gainous recognized for outstanding leadership

Principal Phillip Gainous was presented the first annual Edward Shirley for Excellence in Educational Administration and Supervision award on May 5.

According to an article in The Bulletin, the MCPS newsletter, Gainous was honored for his "administrative style, which focuses on students' ability to succeed and extends a commitment to the Blair community that goes beyond the walls of the high school, along with his commitment to elementary education and professional involvement."

According to Edye Miller, the director of Montgomery County Association of Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (MCAASP) who sponsored the award, Gainous was among seven nominees for the award. In order to be a contender the nominees needed three letters in support of the nomination. Gainous said he was both honored and shocked to find out he was nominated. "I didn't find out I was nominated until right before I won," he said.

Of the seven nominees, two were chosen as finalists by a selection committee made up of teacher and other supervisors. The two finalists were interviewed and the winner was selected based on their fulfillment of certain criteria. The criteria used were interpersonal skills, professional involvement, awards/honors/achievement, community involvement, purposeful leadership instructional leadership, human resources and resource management.

The award was given in honor of Dr. Edward Shirley, who served for over thirty years in Montgomery County administration before becoming the first full-time president of MCAASP.

Miller compared the accomplishments of Shirley to Gainous. She said they "did a lot for Montgomery County" in their long careers as administrators.