Going from more than 300 disciplinary behavior incidents to zero in less than eight years and having the highest increase of test scores out of all Syracuse city schools, Van Duyn Elementary School is a shining star in New York.

These are also some of the reasons its principal, Eva Williams, is the New York State Principal of the Year, named by the School Administrators Association of New York State.

What You Need To Know

  • Van Duyn Elementary went from 300 disciplinary incidents to zero under Principal Eva Williams

  • Test scores made the greatest increase of all Syracuse city schools, led by Williams

  • At Van Duyn Elementary, 82% of students are from economically disadvantaged families, according to GreatSchools.org

High-energy Eva Williams cha-chas herself and her students to statewide recognition this year, despite a pandemic.

“Let’s not be shy dancers,” says Mrs. Williams to students. “So movement breaks are so critical, particularly for our young ones. When they are sitting most of the day behind these sneeze guards, it’s so important that they get up and they move. They get to interact with their peers.”

Alongside Principal Williams every step of the way is Vice Principal Dr. Reba Hodge. She even nominated Williams for the honor and recollected her first visit to Van Duyn.

“There was just an energy in this building that I hadn’t experience in my time as a VP anywhere else,” recalls Dr. Hodge. “Over the years, she’s someone who can really motivate people and inspire people and someone who knows how to talk to people."

While racing a class, Williams jokes, "Wait. Why am I the last one?”

“We’ve done a ton of things here to highlight the students and for them to know that this is their home. And, as you can see, they do it beautifully,” says Williams.

Williams focuses on family involvement to improve student achievement. This includes hosting more than 80 “Family Fun in Learning Nights.” The event includes dinner, school information sharing and fun educational activities for the entire family.

Williams also emphasizes every day that her students are “CHAMPS,” standing for Courageous, Hard working, Achievers, Motivated, Persistent, Scholarly, and she calls all her teachers “champions.”

“It’s a statement that all the students say every morning during morning announcements,” explains Dr. Hodge. “CHAMPS: Courageous, hard working, achievers, motivated, persistent, scholarly and always safe.”

Safety at Van Duyn is emphasized, as it serves neighborhoods with a history of violence. GreatSchools.org shows that 82% of the students at Van Duyn are from economically disadvantaged families.

“It is so important that our children know that our school is a safe place and our community is also a safe space; that there are people in our community that care for them and want them to have the best. And that is what I want the children to know. They have a community that loves them,” says Williams.