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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Heidi Haggerty-Wagner, principal of Alexandria City Public Schools' Early Childhood Center, is among the inaugural class of the Virginia Department of Education's Principals of Distinction, a recognition the state finished awarding this week.
VDOE completed the first-year class at its June board meeting, recognizing the final group of principals in a program that pairs statewide recognition with professional development. Haggerty-Wagner, who was named in the spring, is the only ACPS honoree in the inaugural class.
ACPS leaders praised her work in early childhood education. "Ms. Wagner exemplifies the very best of educational leadership," said ACPS Chief Academic Officer Dr. Pierrette Finney. "Her recognition as a VDOE Principal of Distinction reflects her unwavering commitment to early childhood education and her ability to cultivate a nurturing, inclusive and high-performing learning environment."
Finney said Haggerty-Wagner has built "a school community where every child is known, supported and positioned for success" through instructional leadership, family engagement and an understanding of young learners' developmental needs.
The Early Childhood Center, at 5651 Rayburn Ave., serves the division's youngest students. Its courtyard was officially dedicated this month as "Owen's Place," honoring Haggerty-Wagner's late son, Owen Michael Wagner, who volunteered at the school and aspired to become a teacher before his death in 2016.
About the program
The Principals of Distinction program is a partnership of VDOE, the Virginia Board of Education, the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals and the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals. It pairs recognition with professional development; honorees completed a training symposium and a six-month capstone project.
To qualify, building-level administrators must have at least five years of experience in a Virginia public or accredited nonpublic school and must have completed a formal induction program, under Virginia Board of Education standards. The state said its selection committee gave priority to candidates with a record of improving student achievement, providing instructional leadership and building school environments that reduce non-academic barriers, with an emphasis on evidence of impact on student outcomes.
"This year's Principals of Distinction are delivering on what high expectations and excellence looks like for every student," said Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Jenna Conway, adding that the honorees are "leading the way to provide high quality education and supports for every student."
Completion of the program also carries a credentialing benefit: a Level II endorsement in administration and supervision for prekindergarten through grade 12.
Before joining ACPS, Haggerty-Wagner spent two decades in Arlington Public Schools and served six years as principal of a prekindergarten-through-fifth-grade Title I school in Washington, D.C. She is a nationally certified leader for Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity, known as SEED, and holds degrees in psychology, special education and educational leadership, along with a Harvard University certificate in early learning leadership.
