Rinehart named principal of the year

Atlanta Principal, Nancy Rinehart, was named this week the Region 8 High School Principal of the Year for being an outstanding school leader. Rinehart will be with Atlanta ISD for 25 years next year.

Rinehart graduated from Carthage High School in Carthage, Missouri where she obtained her BSE in English and Physical Education with a minor in Athletic Training from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO.

Her first job was at LaMonte HS in LaMonte, Missouri where she taught English and coached basketball and cheerleading. She also taught speech and drama and coached volleyball at Raymore-Peculiar Middle School outside of Kansas City as well. Afterwards she taught English and coached volleyball in Ewa Beach, Hawaii for two years. In Texas, she taught at Linden-Kildare, working with students with special needs.

However, it was in the fall of 1998 that she began her career at Atlanta ISD, originally teaching English, and remained there in the classroom for 10 years. She was also the AHS Cheer Coach for nine of those years and coached UIL Ready Writing and Literary Criticism. She then moved into administration and was the assistant principal for five years, and this is now her eighth year as the principal.

During her time in administration, she has received numerous honors including AEF Educator Award 2013; TASSP Region 8 Assistant High School Principal of the Year 2014; Statewide Semi-Finalist H-E-B Excellence in Education Award 2018 and Atlanta High School 10th place in UIL Lone Star Cup 2019.

Rinehart obtained a Masters of Educational Administration in 2000 from Texas A&M and holds principal and superintendent certifications. She is also an adjunct professor at Texarkana College

When asked about what Rinehart enjoys the most about her job, she said she “loves working with students and helping them discover their potential. As educators, we don’t always know the influence we make on our students, so it is very rewarding when you hear from them years later and they share how we made a difference in their lives.”

Rinehart attributes her success to “being blessed to work with many wonderful co-workers, students, and parents throughout my tenure at AHS. I am honored to be recognized for this award.”

When asked how she would like to be remembered, she said, some would remember her “as the Shakespeare quote – ‘Though she be but little, she is fierce,’ I hope that they look at me as a caring and encouraging educator that made a difference in their lives.”