There are more than 1,000 middle schools in New York state, but you only have to look to Tonawanda Middle School to find the state’s best principal.

Dr. James Newton was recently named the Principal of the Year by the School Administration of New York state, and is one of 51 candidates for a similar national award.

Newton was nominated early in the school year by his assistant principal Larry Badgley, Superintendent Whitney Vantine, four teachers and a parent.

Teachers, administrators and parents all agree that Newton deserves the recognition, but he downplays the attention the award has drawn to him. He considers the accolades an award for the school and district.

“I’m just doing my job,” Newton said. “We work together to make Tonawanda Middle School the best place it can be. Fortunately I have a great staff.”

His staff is quick to return the accolades. Renee Cool, who chairs the school’s special education department, said nominating Newton was a building-level idea.

“Jim has so many wonderful characteristics on a personal and professional level,” Cool said. “He is confident in his ability to be a leader and he respects our decisions and treats his staff like professionals.”

Lauren Kislack, a math teacher who also helped nominate Newton, called him a “stellar” example of what a middle school principal should be. “He is a friend and a role model to students, staff and the community,” Kislack said.

Students have noticed Newton’s efforts, too. During a recent visit to the school, a News reporter overheard a student pointing out a display case announcing Newton’s accomplishment. “That’s pretty awesome. We have the best principal in the state,” the student said.

When considering Newton and his contemporaries across New York, the state administration looked at principals who demonstrate collaborative leadership, have strong curriculum and technology taught in the school and a positive school environment.

These qualities were highlighted in letters penned by the teachers who helped nominate Newton. Common themes included Newton’s leadership, commitment to education, desire for students to succeed and encouraging his staff to excel in their jobs.

“A great leader inspires the best in others,” Cool wrote in her letter of support. “Dr. Newton has shown the ability to evolve with educational trends, filter out what will help his staff, and that in turn accomplishes his greater goal of helping each and every student.”

When it comes to class management, Newton said it’s imperative that students don’t have any “down time,” time that’s unproductive. To him, a well-organized class plan will have many transitions throughout a period to keep the students engaged.

Several transitions during a 40-minute period, or 80 minutes in sixth grade, will lead to fewer classroom management issues. For example, a teacher cannot expect to hold the attention of an entire class for a 40-minute lecture. Adding class participation and other transitions will help stimulate the mind.

Newton also advocates that teachers have an activity or lesson written out on the chalk board when students enter their classes. “Students can start working on something immediately,” Newton explained.

However, Newton says it’s not all button-down business at the school.

“You have to have fun,” Newton said. “Students are going through a lot of changes at this age.”

With support from the administration, school board, staff and parents — “We’re fortunate in the City of Tonawanda, the parents are very supportive” — Newton said Tonawanda Middle School doesn’t have some of the major challenges that other schools face. He notes test scores are rising, and the school is in good standing with federal No Child Left Behind mandates.

The biggest challenge for Newton is preparation, because he notes one never knows what is going to happen from day to day, yet you must be prepared for anything. In fact, he’s a firm believer in the early 20th century American philosopher and education reformer John Dewey’s “learn by doing” teaching emphasis.

“We have to work together,” Newton said. “My goal is to make all the students comfortable in middle school.”

Kislack said Newton has also taken a role in the community, initiating programs that provide service such as raking leaves for elderly and disabled people in the district.

“Dr. James Newton has proven himself to be an exceptional administrator by creating a friendly and secure school environment for teachers, students and the community,” Kislack added. “Teachers at Tonawanda Middle School are encouraged by Dr. Newton to grow as educators.”

Newton calls one of his work styles “MBWA,” or management by walking around. He explained that the administration needs to know what’s going on, and the best way to do that is to get up and see firsthand what’s going on.

“This administrator serves as a positive role model for his students,” observed English Department Chair Tracy Schultz. “He’s always visible in the halls greeting them throughout the day with an enthusiastic attitude and welcoming smile. It’s not unusual for him to pop into classrooms observing students and teachers on a regular basis.”

His style has been noticed by the teaching staff. Shawn Lodovico said Newton’s ability to lead is his greatest characteristic.

“Dr. Newton is the leader of Tonawanda Middle School, not the boss,” Lodovico, a technology teacher, said. “The teachers here would follow him to edge of the Earth, not because he said so, but because we would believe he was doing it for the right reason.”

Newton, a South Buffalo native, is in his 11th year as principal at the middle school. He transferred to Tonawanda after serving as an assistant principal at Amherst Middle School. His journey from South Buffalo to Tonawanda first took him across the state.

Newton earned his bachelors degree form Buffalo State College, and his masters from SUNY Oswego. It was while teaching downstate where he obtained his administrative degree from SUNY New Paltz.

While teaching technology classes in Rockland County, Newton was also taking higher education courses because the additional classes would help him become a department chairperson. The only problem was he wasn’t matriculated in one area.

“I took administrative, and I seemed to like it,” Newton said. This led to an opportunity to serve as an administrative intern for a full year, and he jumped at it.

“It was a great opportunity to return to the Buffalo area,” Newton said. That opportunity was realized when Amherst Central beckoned. He later accepted a post in Tonawanda and 11 years later he’s a candidate for best principal in the country.

The national award, given out by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, will be announced in October when 51 candidates, one from every state plus Washington D.C., converge on the nation’s capital.

“I’m just honored with the state award. I’m honored that the superintendent, administration, teachers and parents nominated me,” Newton said. “I’m very excited for the school. We all work together.”

Contact night city editor John Hopkinsat 693-1000, ext. 150.