Capella University PhD Graduate Named Georgia Middle School Principal of the Year for 2005; Martha Richardson Received Doctoral Online Degree from Capella in Leadership in Educational Administration

Business Wire, Sept 26, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS -- The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) has named Martha Richardson as Georgia's Middle School Principal of the Year for 2005. Richardson, who has been principal of Gardner Newman Middle School in LaGrange, Georgia, for the past 5 years, was nominated for the award by her fellow principals in the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals.

Richardson received her doctoral online degree in 2003 from Capella University, a leading online university serving more than 13,000 students. Her PhD specialty at Capella was in Leadership in Educational Administration. Prior to earning her PhD at Capella, Richardson received a master's degree from Georgia State University, an education specialist degree from the University of West Georgia, and a bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University.

"At Capella, we talked about common issues all the time. As principals, we are trying to create the kind of environment in the school - and the community - where our teachers can teach," Richardson says. "The ability to collaborate with CEOs and other professionals at Capella provided an additional realm of expertise that applies to educational leadership."

Richardson will be recognized at the NASSP's annual Principal's Institute and Awards Banquet in Washington DC on Nov. 12, 2005. The Principal of the Year program began in 1993 in order to recognize outstanding middle level and high school principals who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students as well as for their exemplary contributions to the profession.

To learn more about the National Association of Secondary School Principals, please visit http://www.nassp.org/s_nassp/index.asp.

About Capella University

Founded in 1993, Capella University is an accredited(a) online university that offers graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services and psychology, as well as a Bachelor of Science online degree program with 10 specializations in business and information technology. The online university currently serves more than 13,000 enrolled learners from all 50 states and 55 countries. Capella University is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company, headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, visit http://www.capella.edu or call 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552).

(a) Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, located at 30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504, (312) 263-0456, www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org.