[applause] [piano playing]

[applause] [piano playing]

>> give it up one more time for the mckinley elementary second and third graders. [applause] >> i'd like to acknowledge scott wiener. thank you for joining us. i'd like to acknowledge my colleague, sandy, for joinin gus. -- joining us. and at this time, i'd like to welcome ed lee, the mayor of san

francisco. [applause] >> thank you, hydra and mckinley students. thank you very much. supervisor weiner, i thin kwe k we have the official song, next time i go t otho the boardf supervisors, we need side by side. we ain't got a barrell of money. thank you for coming today. i want to say that i remember an episode, when i was in elementary school, when i was brought down to the principal's office. now i get to seek revenge by having the principles come to the mayor's office. i do signal to you my great

appreciation, to the school district, and to all the school board members, to the family of people working with the city to make certain that we have the best educational system in the country that we can offer. we have celebrated with some of the best teachers, and i have been to countless numbers of different schools. we have a relationship with the city college, the wonderful relationships that we continue to have, and then, reflective of the city and a commitment to continue to support the school district and never allow this to

be isolated again as this has been years before. it is a marvelous opportunity for me to thank you for the wonderful work of the principles. there are people who the minister the schools, that do not get their fair share of recognition, but no this. we know how difficult that this is to manage the school. right down to the communities and the public and private partnerships, the trust that the parents have and theé8 leadershp that they expect. if this is gaining access and equity goals, with student achievement, or just the accountability to have this with each school site, all of this has to work under the hard work the principle has to do.

we wanted to make certain that we continue the great tradition that my predecessor began, to make certain that we give recognition to all of the work that each of the principles thus and to select from that the best that there is in san francisco. i would like to announce the winners for this year, the most talented and committed principles that we have, ortega elementary school. congratulations, -- thank you for your outstanding work in beginning the mandarin program. and also to david wong, thank you. thank you, david. thank you for being one of the first principles to participate in the community house, and to make certain that these shared

playgrounds -- we were making certain that this was open to the rest of the public. we had that very fine effort, to make certain that the schools are part of that community. and for your great service to the students, who have engaged in the juvenile justice system, not only doing this but exhibiting your ongoing dedication by knowing that you will go right back to the classroom, and you will continue your excellent service. thank you very much for that. with the support of the school superintendent, and the city family, i want to announce that he will be receiving a very nice package of things that i hope represent our support for the work that you have done, the

congratulation and the sincere thanks for a job well done. part of that package, you'll be receiving a cash reward of $750. we also have the best packages, to one of my favorite restaurants. you have probably seen me there for breakfast. and a crystal apple from our friends at tiffany. and we also thank fiona, we have the official certificates of honor. you can choose one of three packages here, and you get your choice. but these are wonderful packages.

we are doing a lot of different things and they're very special. each of you will have a choice about what you want to choose. this is a fitting end to the school year, and a wonderful song and performance and their exhibition of the great talent. i want to make certain that you know, from the heart of the city, we are very thankful. the mayor is spending a lot of job -- a lot of time making certain that education is at the heart of everything that we do, and this is a look to the future but also of thomas that we want to continue to have, with all of the work that we have. you have dedicated your talents to make certain that this is the best city in the country. thank you on behalf of the city and county of san francisco.

i also want to give a shot out to the administrators of san francisco. is jan here? thank you very much. you are really wonderful to work with, because it does take all the city family to work together. thank you very much. thank you, united administrators. >> we would not be able to do this without the leadership of the school district, i would like to thank carlos garcia and ask and to come up. >> thank you. carlos will do. this is very incredible. the last week of school i felt sorry for them. the last thing that you want to be as a principle is to be

involved with anything in the first and last week of school. i have to tell you that all the research and education -- you can have really great teachers at school, but the one common thread on most of the effective schools in the country is having great principles. without them, you will not have a great school. to find three people out of the hundred principles that we have -- this is a tough task. but they chose three all stars to represent the school district, and everyone of them has done a superb job demonstrating why we have such effective schools and grade teachers. i want to thank merely for stepping up and continuing this tradition because this is a family, and the city is only as good as its schools, and they're

only as good as the community and the city. this is just the beginning. schools keep getting better every year and you have not seen anything yet because these will just get better. these are the all stars that deserve all the recognition. on behalf of the bill -- the school district and the great boar, -- she is the president of the school board. i also want to thank, on behalf of all of us, thank you for being good leaders to the teachers, and to the students and the entire city. thank you. >> i also want to acknowledge a couple of our supporters. he has been a wonderful part of the city family, so thank you for joining us.

i know that -- the want to say a few words? then we will have each of you come up. one thing the mayor was sharing, we have three envelopes and three different packages. one of them includes tickets to the san francisco giants, and opera tickets. this is worth over $700. this as well watching, lunch at alito -- whale watching, lunch at colleto, and a mac book. we cannot choose for you. we have three envelopes that you will each get an opportunity to have, and you can trade these. >> thank you very much. >> the board of education -- and

all of the great people who have come out to support the principles, i would like to say that these three principles are the backbone of their community. and what makes them extraordinary leaders is that when you go to their schools, you can see from the children to the parents, and the students involved, a kind of harmony that is unique to their school, and this is what builds great communities, great neighborhoods, and a great city. the united administrators of san francisco -- thank you all for putting yourself on the front lines, every day to make these schools extraordinary. we really appreciate this. thank you. >> carlos, if you can come up and join us, in giving the

awards to the school principals. the first of them -- this is jolene washington. [applause] >> the mayor will hold the evnvelope. >> do they lok thook the same? >> let's see what you've got. >> lunch at collettos and four tickets to the giants game. >> thank you. >> good afternoon. mayor lee, superintentdant garcia, hydra, mendoza.

jan, good afternoon. i am jolene washingotn, principal at jose ortega elementary. this has been a wonderful year of recognition, and i would like to thank everyone who supports the work with us, the parents and the support staff, the teachers, and especially the wonderful students. thank you to the unity spiritual center of san francisco. they provide uniforms and supplies, so students who are not able to afford uniforms will have their uniforms. and california lodge no. 1, representing the masons. they support these schools --

constantly giving so we can afford to buy books and computers and other things. thank you so much. and i would like to thank the district staff for giving me support. thank you so much. thank you to my colleagues, will always have the device and help me to run this -- and i want to thank my family for loving me. i want to thank my mother, my siblings, i have one of my sisters over there. my extended family and my children. and my husband is at work. i just want to thank you, this is beautiful. thank you. >> this is wonderful.

>> congratulation. >> next up, we have david wong from francis scott key. [applause] >> all right. >> i know what is thre. >> -- there. >> you got this, in the envelope, morton's steakhouse dinner. and a night at the opera. >> thank you very much. i hvaave a speech iwrote last night. -- i wrote last night. people say principals have the toughest job. i will say, this job is jsut as challenging as it is rewarding. it is hard to believe i have done this for 19 years.

this job presents many challenges, and i have to say that this kept my heart young. i really enjoyed doing my job. some days are more challenging than the others. but in the 19 years -- i never had one day i never wanted to come to school. i accumulated over 200 days of sick days. i would donate this to one of the teachers in need. what kept me going, this is the smile that i see at school. the staff and the parents and students, the things that kept me going all year. i am here to receive this award by i am very humbled by this honor. there are many out there who were just as deserving.

and we are grateful to the mayor's office. this takes an entire village to educate a child, and i see this. without the support from the staff and the parents, the district offices, and the supervisors -- supervisor chu has been very supportive. i am able to stand here today, largely due to their efforts. i am excepting this award on behalf of all of you, and my success is really a reflection of your success. lastly i just want to say to my family, and my mother, who i

wish to be here, but she went to the hospital yesterday. i want to thank her because she allowed for me to be who i am. if she had her way i would be a doctor, or some other career. i want to thank my daughters. i have four of them. they're always thinking about me and always being so sweet. and for my wife, or always standing behind me, and not getting too upset when i get home late from work. why is this meeting so long? i want to thank her -- she is my backbone. and also for my son, for always listen to her when i am working late at work.

and lastly for the parents committed out here today, thank you so much. thank you for the good things you have done, i love you all. [applause] >> last but not least, i want to acknowledge the supervisor. i want to recognize the deputy superintendant. our next recipient is james jim fitzien. your mom got in touch with me. from your mom, dad, brothers and sisters -- thancongratulations. we are sorry we can't be here. this is from blanca and david in

michigan, and terry roberts in durango, colorado. come on up. >> and jim gets the max pro. wonderful -- mac pro. wonderful, you will need this. >> i have to say, this is humbling and absolutely overwhelming. i do not know how my family knew how to get in touch with me. this is amazing. there is a graduation starting down there in half an hour. this is really overwhelming. we were there in the seats, and i thought getting a piece of paper is good enough.

and then you get to meet the mayor. so many people -- i came from michigan and i am in los angeles, where i was a music teacher. i came up to san francisco and decided i would be a substitute. the first job i got was woodside learning center, and i thought i would do this and this would be great. and it turned out that this was juvenile hall. it has been 20 years i have been involved with this population. there is no question. these are the kids need the most help. so much that -- i thought this was a secret. i am at the log cabin -- and this is something where want to get right to the classroom to work with the kids.

there are some very needy children and i want to get back with them. this year has been the most incredible year, and i have been a principal for 11 years. i have felt nothing but 100% support from everyone, and the mayor's office -- thank you for doing all of this. this is very forward thinking. amazing support with having the kids come down, the superintendent. my partners, and the assistant principal. everyone is so incredibly supportive. and it all happens for the kids. i want to say that i wrote an e- mail yesterday, that this has

been an unbelievable year, with unbelievable work, but with believable results. finally, i want to thank my number one supporter, anna garcia, and i am committed to being with the kids. this is every night for about three hours. this is what i choose to do and she has been incredible this way. thank you so much for these fantastic things. thank you, thank you, thank you. [applause] >> one more round of applause for the principle of the year award recipient. david and jim. thank you so much.