Prestigious Award Given To Westlake Assistant Principal

WESTLAKE, OH — Westlake High School Assistant Principal Ned Lauver earned a prestigious honor this week. Lauver was named the 2018 Ohio Association Secondary School Administrator's (OASSA) Assistant Principal of the Year.

“I sincerely hope that this award reflects that I have done positive things for kids and families,” Lauver said. “An award should be viewed as an expectation of what the recipient should do in the future. That will weigh heavily on my mind moving forward.”

The award is given to middle and high school assistant principals that have helped provide high quality learning situations for their students. Members of the OASSA Board of Directors are responsible for screening applicants for the award.

Lauver is one of two assistant principals at the high school, his counterpart being Bridget Elias. In a show of support, Elias recommended Lauver for the award.

“He is truly vested and surpasses the average administrator in impacting his students’ futures,” Elias wrote in her recommendation. “Mr. Ned Lauver has clearly gone above and beyond his role as an assistant principal, affecting countless families while adjusting plans for students based on individual needs.”

Westlake High Principal Paul Wilson said Lauver is “passionate about his role” and detailed his involvement in a variety of instructional leadership areas, including handbooks, attendance policy, master schedule initiatives and strategic planning.

The praise from staff at the high school didn't end with Lauver's fellow principals. The high school's intervention specialist, Kate O'Leary, said “passion for students and his commitment to a positive learning community."

She went on to say that Lauver goes above and beyond the call-of-duty.

“He will always participate in conversations and provide out-of-the-box solutions for students who need the extra support,” O’Leary wrote. “Mr. Lauver is fair, flexible and compassionate, and students respond in a positive manner because they know this will always be true.”

Lauver started his career in education at Carrollton High School and Wooster High School, where he served as a Social Studies teacher. He also coached Speech and Debate.

He later served as associate principal of Edgewood Middle School in Wooster. He came to Westlake High in 2013 as assistant principal.

Photo from Westlake Schools