2023 National Magnet Principal of the Year
JOY ABERNATHY-DYER, PH.D. 
Villa del Rey Creative Sciences and Arts Magnet School
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Joy Abernathy-Dyer, Ph.D., Villa del Rey Creative Sciences and Arts Magnet School, East Baton Rouge Parish School System, LA – Awarded Magnet School Principal of the Year. Dr. Abernathy-Dyer is a forward thinker who has a big heart for our school, more specifically, the Magnet Program. Since the inception of the Magnet program, Villa del Rey has expanded and grown. Such growth and achievement is attributed to Dr. Abernathy-Dyer’s leadership.
My greatest education contribution and accomplishment as a magnet principal is bringing the Magnet Schools of Assistance Program to Villa del Rey Creative Sciences and Arts Magnet. As principal, we have implemented experiences in our labs offering robotics, outdoor classrooms, gardening, engineering, culinary, and renewable energy labs. – Joy Abernathy-Dyer, Ph.D.
Congratulations to our 2023 Regional Principals of the Year:
REGION I
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, The District of Columbia
JOSEPH “JAY” LIPP
Aero/Hydrospace Engineering & Physical Sciences Magnet High School
Theme(s): Aerospace and Hydrospace Engineering
Grade(s): 9-12
Bridgeport Public Schools
Bridgeport, Connecticut
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REGION II
Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Marianas Islands and Trust Territory of the Pacific
EMILIO GARZA
Elysian Heights Elementary Arts Magnet
Theme(s): Arts Integration
Grade(s): K-5
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles, California
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REGION III
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands
CARRIE A. CORMIER
James B. Sanderlin K-8 IB World School
Theme(s): International Baccalaureate
Grade(s): K-8
Pinellas County Schools
St. Petersburg, Florida
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REGION IV
Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, International
TAMALA ASHFORD
Dent Middle School
Theme(s): Fine Arts and Media Enrichment (FAME), The Learning Collaborative (TLC), and TWO Academies
Grade(s): 6-8
Richland School District Two
Columbia, South Carolina
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REGION V
Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas
JOY ABERNATHY-DYER, PH.D.
Villa del Rey Creative Sciences and Arts Magnet School
Theme(s): Renewable Energy, Robotics & Coding, Engineering
Grade(s): PreK-5
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
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REGION VI
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
DR. RONALD SALAZAR SOJO
Birch Grove Elementary School for the Arts
Theme(s): Arts
Grade(s): PreK-8
Osseo Area School District
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota