Holy Rosary School Principal Jim Ford has been awarded the St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Principal’s Award.The award is the highest honor given to a Catholic elementary school principal in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.The recognition allows Ford the opportunity to apply for the National Catholic Education Association Distinguished Principal Award this year.The Archdiocese of St. Louis divides its elementary schools into eight regions based on location, said Sue Brown, director of marketing and community relations for the Catholic Education Center.Principals from the eight regions nominate one of their colleagues to compete for the annual award. Ford was nominated by Catholic school principals in region eight, which includes Warren and Franklin counties. A coordinator’s council made of each of the regions voted for Ford out of the eight nominees.“I was shocked,” Ford said. “We’re talking about being selected out of upward of 90 principals.”Formerly known as the Distinguished Principal’s Award, it’s been given annually to an elementary school principal for the last decade, said Lucia Signorelli, director of leadership and development at the Catholic Education Center.Ford has been employed by the Archdiocese of St. Louis for 37 years. Since 2000 he’s been a principal, the last three years at Holy Rosary and the previous 11 at St. Cecelia School in St. Louis.He credits talented faculty he’s worked with at both schools as important factors that contributed to receiving the award.“We’ve had transitions at Holy Rosary,” Ford said. Among them are multiage classrooms where children in different grades learn subjects together then break into grade level classes for math and religion.Because of this teachers have had to adapt and learn new skills, he explained. With the addition of 13 new students in grades one to eight this year, enrollment at Holy Rosary has stabilized. The school continues to focus on enrollment by hosting open houses and marketing itself to the community.Epson Smart boards were installed in each classroom this year and have enhanced and enriched curriculum, Ford said. The faculty and staff constantly evaluate curriculum to best meet the needs of the students.“We re-evaluated our math curriculum.” As a result, a McGraw-Hill math program was put in place at the school this year, Ford said. The program is unique and research-based. This spring each class will have a raised garden bed. This spins off science, language arts and religion lessons and projects, he said.Among other activities, the after school curriculum includes a journalism club, bell choir, and a dance team. “We offer different options for after school,” he said.He’s also enhanced community building activities at Holy Rosary. A musician for 40 years, Ford and his music group Harmony has performed at the school. “We had a Halloween dance for families and have had other dances, too,” he said.Ford calls himself the “yes” principal. “I never say no.” He welcomes working with community organizations to enrich curriculum that’s already in place. “Relationships with the community are real important. I always welcome community involvement,” he said.Holy Rosary works with the Warrenton Fire Department; the Scenic Regional Library; the Warren County Arts Commission; the ambulance district; and Warren County R-III School District for professional development, student assessments and classes for special needs children.Scott Hart is a member of the Holy Rosary School Board. He and his wife have two children enrolled at the school. He speaks highly of Ford’s commitment to Holy Rosary. “The kids love it when his band plays,” Hart said. Ford is very good at handling students and parents with care. “Jim has a very professional attitude. He’s just a great guy. He understands people well and knows how to interact with them. We’re proud to have him as our principal.”Ford was principal at St. Cecelia from 2000 to 2011. The 125 students enrolled in the school at the time he became principal were mostly Latinos from low income families. During his tenure, with the help of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the Vatterott Foundation, the school was the first K-8 school in the country to embed the NativityMiguel Model of Education in its existing curriculum.Among other things, the NativityMiguel Model includes longer school days, a graduate support program and summer enrichment activities. Ford reached out to students at Washington University to tutor St. Cecelia students, too.Under the program, standardized test scores went up and all the students who applied to high schools were accepted into their first choice of schools. At about the same time, St. Cecelia began offering substantial scholarships and financial aid to low-income families via the Archdiocese of St. Louis.There are about 200 students attending St. Cecelia this year, Ford said. “The school is still doing well.”Laurie Evans is a teacher at St. Cecelia. She worked with Ford during implementation of NativityMiguel. “His skills as a leader include delegating, humor, creativity, support of faculty and being positive,” Evans said. Ford encouraged her and another teacher to take their students on a trip to Jefferson City. It’s an annual tradition, Evans said.“Ford did well in finding each teacher’s strengths and delegating so that we could accomplish a lot as a team.” Evans says she is certainly a better teacher now than she was 14 years ago and that is partly because of Jim Ford. “Mr. Ford definitely deserves Principal of the Year,” she said.At Holy Rosary, Ford spends about one-third of his day teaching religion to students in grades four to eight. Most of the school comes through his classroom. The rest of his day is spent doing administrative work. “This job allows me to teach and it’s a real blessing,” Ford said.“Our entire parish of Holy Rosary in Warrenton is happy for Mr. Ford. We are proud that he is the principal of our school and that his contemporaries are recognizing and honoring him for his talent, dedication, service and faith,” said Holy Rosary Parish Administrator Fr. Patrick Driscoll.Ford turned 62 last year. Is retirement anywhere on the horizon? “I’m a young guy,” he quipped. “Being principal and teacher at a Catholic school is a vocation. I’m doing the best job I can do each day.”

Holy Rosary Catholic School's Principal Jim Ford, shown here with some of his students, was recognized recently as the St. Louis Archdiocese Principal of the Year. Chris Orlet photo.