Shaw middle’s principal honored as state’s top

OLYMPIA — The principal of Shaw Middle School has been chosen as Washington’s middle level principal of the year. Christine J. Lynch has been the principal at Shaw, 4106 N. Cook St., for six years. She is known for leading her staff to take collective responsibility for every student’s success. Her motto is “powerful instruction for all students.” At Shaw, about 80 percent of the students qualify for free and reduced-price lunch. “Chris is a very courageous leader, I think she is such a good example of a principal who believes all children can be successful,” said Spokane schools Superintendent Nancy Stowell. “She is very student-centered in her leadership.” In 2006, Lynch’s school was honored by the federal government for closing the math achievement gap among kids of different races and economic situations. Last year, the school received a state award for maintaining adequate yearly progress in all categories. The principals award announced Monday comes from the Association of Washington School Principals.