Past Principal of the Year Awardees
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is pleased to announce Angela Stephens, principal of Bolden Elementary Middle School at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, as the 2022 DoDEA Principal of the Year. Stephens has 24 years of teaching experience with DoDEA schools. She has taught third grade, science and math labs, math instructional support, and math at Laurel Bay Intermediate School and Bolden Elementary School in Beaufort, South Carolina.
Stephens advocates for curricular reform in mathematics. According to the Committee on Economic Growth of The Conference Board, "improving the math and science skills of young people is an important step toward maintaining innovation-led economic growth in the coming decade. As educators, we must go beyond how we were taught and teach as we wish we had been taught."
Not only is she an effective principal, she works outside her duties to serve in multiple capacities, including contributing to the following committees:
- DoDEA Americas Southeast District Principal Advisory Council
- DoDEA Americas Southeast District Diversity Equity and Inclusion Team
- DoDEA Americas Response to Intervention/ Multi-Tiered System of Support Team
Stephens earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from South Carolina State University, a master’s in elementary education from the University of South Carolina, and her doctorate from Argosy University.
Americas
“I am proud to recognize Dr. Angela Stephens as the DoDEA Americas 2022 Principal of the Year! She exemplifies the type of positive, professional leadership that makes a difference in the lives of the students and staff. Through the tough times of the pandemic, she held her staff together and gained the trust of her military families to ensure their children remained in a safe environment,” said Judith A. Minor, DoDEA Americas Director for Student Excellence.
Europe

Ms. Lucille Sutherland
Unit 35037
Camp Kinser
FPO, AP 96373-5037
United States
“Ms. Sutherland is a dedicated educational leader who has demonstrated a strong commitment to the students, families, and staff at Kinser Elementary,” said Ms. Lois Rapp, DoDEA Pacific Region Director for Student Excellence. “She embraces opportunities to partner with the local community. Under her leadership, Kinser students have engaged in meaningful cultural exchange activities with local Japanese students, a partnership that has continued virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
DoDEA Pacific selects Ms. Lucille Sutherland as Region Principal of the Year
Pacific
“Fredo is one of DoDEA’s great instructional leaders. Through the years, he has demonstrated a unique ability to create a culture of collaboration and inclusiveness that has led to positive teaching and learning environments for staff and students alike. He is highly deserving of this recognition,” said Dr. Howard-Brahaney, DoDEA Europe Director for Student Excellence.
Fredo Ontiveros Selected as 2022 DoDEA-Europe Principal of the Year
DoDEA 2021 Principal of the Year
Mr. James Strait, Kubasaki HS
2021 Regional Principals of the Year
DoDEA Americas: Mrs. Leigh Anne Faulkner, Tarawa Terrace ES
DoDEA Pacific: Mr. James Strait, Kubasaki HS
DoDEA Europe: Ms. Allison Peltz, Vicenza ES
DoDEA 2020 Principal of the Year
Dr. Terri Marshall, DoDEA Virtual HS
2020 Regional Principals of the Year
DoDEA Americas: Dr. Terri Marshall, DoDEA Virtual HS
DoDEA Pacific: Mr. Patrick Buckley, Sollar ES
DoDEA Europe: Dr. Jacqueline Ferguson, Kaiserslautern HS
DoDEA 2019 Principal of the Year
Mr. Paul Hernandez, Maxwell AFB EMS
2019 Regional Principals of the Year
DoDEA Americas: Mr. Paul Hernandez, Maxwell AFB EMS
DoDEA Pacific: Mr. Kristopher R. Kwiatek, Kadena HS
DoDEA Europe: Dr. William Hill, Wiesbaden MS
DoDEA 2018 Elementary Principal of the Year
Ms. Penelope Miller-Smith, Bahrain ES
DoDEA 2018 Secondary Principal of the Year
Dr. Thomas White, Antilles HS
2018 Regional Principals of the Year
DoDEA Americas: Linda Haberman, Mahaffey MS
DoDEA Pacific: Kevin Olds, Lester MS
DoDEA Europe: Thomas J. Whitney, SHAPE MHS
DoDEA 2018 Elementary Principal of the Year
Ms. Michelle Moore-Robinson, Kinser ES
DoDEA 2018 Secondary Principal of the Year
Ms. Sharon O'Donnell, Ramstein HS
2018 Regional Principals of the Year
DoDEA Americas: Ms. Vicki Gilmer, Fort Rucker ES
DoDEA Pacific: Dr. Tonya Laliberte, Yokotoa MS
DoDEA Europe: Mr. Joe Lovett, Vogeleh ES