RPS principal selected for national leadership award

A Rochester Public Schools principal is receiving national recognition.

Jim Sonju, the principal at Lincoln K-8 District-wide School, is one of nine recipients nationwide of this year’s Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership. The honorees were announced on Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel A. Cardona.

The Bell Award recognizes principals at Blue Ribbon schools for their “outstanding work and the vital role they play in guiding their students and schools to excellence, frequently under challenging circumstances.”

Lincoln, a STEM-focused district-wide option school, is among 297 schools that received the Blue Ribbon designation this year from the U.S. Department of Education.

“We are extremely proud of Principal Sonju and the work he does for Rochester Public Schools,” said RPS Superintendent Kent Pekel. “His leadership is exemplary as is evidenced by this recent award, Lincoln receiving a Blue Ribbon Award, and his years of service to RPS. Jim cares so much about the Lincoln school community that he regularly gets a bit choked up when talking about students, staff, and families of that wonderful school. I love that about him.”

Sonju and the eight other recipients will be honored during the National Blue Ribbon Schools awards ceremony on Nov. 3 in the nation’s capital.  

“We have an amazing staff and Lincoln K-8 community that do incredible work every day for students,” said Sonju. “I am truly blessed to be a part of such an incredible school, team, and District.”

Cover photo: Principal Sonju / Courtesy RPS