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CLAS Leadership Award
Brigett Stewart Receives CLAS Leadership Award
Mrs. Brigett Stewart, principal of Piedmont Elementary School in the Piedmont City School System, was chosen as the 2023 CLAS Leadership Award recipient sponsored by Horace Mann. This award was announced during the Awards Luncheon at CLAS Convention on June 13, 2023. CLAS Executive Director Dr. Vic Wilson and representatives from Horace Mann presented Stewart with a $1,000 check. Horace Mann sponsors this award annually.
Out of nine worthy nominees for this honor, Stewart best exemplified the leadership characteristics the award is intended to recognize. Her nomination was made by the Alabama Association of Elementary School Administrators (AAESA). This prestigious award has been given each year since 1980 by the CLAS Board of Directors to a CLAS member who is proven to be an exemplary leader, not only in the local school system, but also in their affiliated member organization.
Principal of Piedmont Elementary, Mrs. Stewart has served as AAESA’s District V Treasurer and is currently in her second term as the District V Representative. She was selected as Alabama’s National Distinguished Principal in 2022 and currently serves as the Co-Chair of the affiliate’s NDP Selection Committee. Additionally, in 2022, Stewart was one of nine principals across the country to receive the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership from the U.S. Dept. of Education. She was also named the 2019 Alabama Community Education Association’s Principal of the Year for her out-of-the-box efforts with student engagement.
Under Mrs. Stewart’s leadership, Piedmont Elementary School was recognized as a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School and a 2023 National ESEA Distinguished School for exhibiting exceptional student performance and academic growth. Mrs. Stewart has led Piedmont Elementary staff to a datadriven mindset as they continually use assessments to guide teaching. During her tenure, the school has been recognized as having the highest math learning gains on state tests in the nation from 2019-2022.
Additional Leadership Award Nominees
Bob Lawry
Alabama Association for Prevention, Attendance and Support Services (AAPASS)
Andrea Dennis
Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP)
Laura Parker
Alabama Child Nutrition Directors (ACND)
Andrew Maxey
Alabama Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (AASCD)
Resia Brooks
Alabama Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA)
Ross Reed
Alabama Association of Middle School Principals (AAMSP)
Charla DeLeo
Alabama Council of Administrators of Special Education (ALA-CASE)
Diane Sherriff
Alabama Association of 504 Coordinators (ALA504)
