"Trust, respect, challenge, optimism and a commitment to excellence are attitudes that permeate our school culture," says Kenton Mann, principal of Grand Island Senior High School in Grand Island. Dr. Mann has introduced numerous reforms and programs at his school. Among these reforms is the restructuring of the academic calendar to include a two-week period for teachers to dedicate themselves to the development and introduction of new programs that provide students and teachers the opportunity to incorporate a variety of innovative and nontraditional learning activities into the school day. Dr. Mann, who is currently teaching graduate level education courses at area institutions of higher learning, is also involved in the planning and presentation of professional development seminars aimed at teachers, as well as principals in their first year of administrative duty. In 1996, Dr. Mann was named Nebraska Secondary Principal of the Year by the Nebraska Association of Secondary School Principals.
