Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 11:33 am

Dirk Ash, the head principal of LaVergne High School, has been named a finalist for Tennessee Principal of the Year by the Tennessee Department of Education.

Ash previously was named Middle School Principal of the Year earlier in 2010 by the Tennessee Association of Secondary School Principals for his work at LaVergne Middle School. Ash was named principal of LaVergne High School beginning with the 2010-2011 school year.
 
Applications were scored by a state-wide panel of judges comprised of professional educators. The top scoring candidates in each field service region advance to the interview stage to be conducted August 26, 2010. Details will be sent to finalists.
 
For additional information, please contact Mr. Ash at (615) 904-3870.
 
The finalists for Tennessee Principal of the Year 2010-2011 are:
 
First Tennessee (PSC Areas 1 and 2)
Shelly Smith – Greeneville Middle School – Greeneville City Schools
 
East Tennessee (PSC Areas 3 and 4)
Marty Crosby – Forge Ridge School – Claiborne County Schools
 
Southeast (PSC Areas 5 and 6)
Mark Bean – Ooltewah High School – Hamilton County
 
Upper Cumberland (PSC Areas 7 and 8)
Julie Beasley – Sam Houston Elementary School – Lebanon Special School District
 
South Central (PSC Areas 9 and 12)
Donna Rhoton – Bel-Aire Elementary School – Tullahoma City Schools
 
Mid Cumberland (PSC Areas 10 and 11)
Dirk Ash – LeVergne Middle School – Rutherford County Schools
 
Northwest (PSC Areas 13 and 14)
Mike Henson – Huntingdon High School – Huntingdon Special School District
 
Southwest (PSC Areas 15 and 16)
Darry Marshall – Munford High School – Tipton County Schools
 
Memphis/Shelby (PSC Areas 17 and 18)
Tim Sutterland – Collierville High School – Shelby County Schools