At the conclusion of a schoolwide assembly Friday morning, Oct. 30, Assistant Principal Ann Gwynn told the students and staff of Hutchison Elementary that the award for which she was recently selected really belonged to them. She was named Virginia’s elementary school vice principal of the year by the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals.

"I do love coming to work every day because you kids are so fabulous and it’s wonderful to see how you learn and you grow through the years," she said. And she commended the teachers’ and administrators’ attitude, saying they were all working together to do whatever they could for the children, as well as their ability to surprise her with such a large event. "I’m so impressed with Mrs. Baldwin for pulling this off as a surprise because I’m a hard person to surprise," she said, referring to Principal Judy Baldwin.

This is Gwynn’s fourth year at Hutchison, the first school where she had the job of assistant principal.

The entire school was at the event, as were Mayor Steve DeBenedittis, Superintendent Jack Dale, School Board representative Janie Strauss (Dranesville), Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals President James Baldwin and other officials.

During the assembly, each grade level showed its appreciation for Gwynn. Second-graders told her what they would give her if they could grant her a wish. Among the potential gifts were flowers and a hug, a place to put her shoes, a new car, a trip to Las Vegas and $100,000.

Representatives from the fourth grade read expressions of appreciation for her ever-present smile, her respectful attitude, her greetings at the beginning of the school day and her help with assemblies and in the cafeteria. "You are my sun, you are my star, you help me get so far," read one.

The fifth grade had composed a persuasive essay on her behalf, arguing that she knew the students by name and held them to high expectations, and also helped with all school functions, down to the morning announcements. The essay concluded that Gwynn "takes her job seriously and doesn’t fool around."

An acrostic poem based on her name and written by the sixth grade began by saying she was "magnificent, rewarded with intelligence" and "special to the school."

The staff, too, showed their appreciation. Art teacher Gian Lomaglio presented Gwynn with a painting he had made of an eagle, the school’s mascot. "A little after-school work and I pulled it off," he said. "Trying to hide it from you was the hard part because it’s so big."

The staff also gave her a quilt, and the patrol captains presented her with a giant cupcake. The announcement that there would be cupcakes for all after lunch drew an enthusiastic response.

"It’s really amazing. I’m absolutely thrilled to have won it," Gwynn said after the affair had ended with the entire student body taking to their feet and singing Kool and the Gang’s "Celebration." But she reiterated, "I really feel that this award is reflective of the culture that’s here at Hutchison."

Principal Judy Baldwin, who had nominated Gwynn for the award, said that in her essay she had highlighted the assistant principal’s work not only for the school but also for the state. Gwynn is active in the Fairfax Association of Elementary School Principals and takes a leadership role in the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals, Baldwin said. "And she’s a constant learner," she said, noting that Gwynn continually enrolled in educators’ classes.

"She gets to know the kids, really, on a one-to-one basis," the principals said, adding that Gwynn greeted the students every morning, stepped in to guide them when safety patrols weren’t present, helped monitor the cafeteria, headed testing and generally stayed highly visible around the school. Also, she said, Gwynn regularly worked with the community through the school’s PTA.

"She’s my right hand," Baldwin said.