DeSoto County names Heyman as Administrator of Year
DeSoto County School’s 2017 Administrator of the Year, Leslie Heyman, always knew she wanted to be an educator. From her earliest childhood memories to her current position as principal of Center Hill Elementary (CHES), schools have always felt like home to her and the people who fill them like family.
“I was so surprised when I won Administrator of the Year because I don’t feel like I’ve done anything. This is such a great school and was when I got here. The faculty, staff, students and parents here do so much. I am just lucky I just get to be their leader,” Heyman said.
Others would say Heyman is being far too modest.
Lisa Love, principal of Overpark Elementary School (OES), has had the opportunity to work with Heyman for several years. Heyman was an assistant principal at OES before becoming principal at CHES. The two schools are just a few miles apart and feed the same middle school.
In her letter of recommendation for the award, Love wrote that Heyman embodies the quote by John C. Maxwell, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
“Whether she has disciplined a student or teacher, conferred with a parent or district personnel, or listened to a community leader’s needs, she has done so in a professional, loving manner that is so rare in today’s world,” Love said.
Heyman takes every opportunity to praise her teachers, staff, students and parent volunteers. She instituted a program at CHES called Mustang Pride through which students are recognized for going above and beyond what is expected of them. Students are chosen for Mustang Pride Awards throughout the school year and in addition to recognition at school, Heyman also makes what she calls a “brag call” to the student’s parents telling them the reason for the award.
Heyman developed her warm-hearted style over 21 years as a classroom teacher, mostly at Olive Branch Middle School. She said being a principal is a lot like being a teacher.
“You’re still inspiring and encouraging growth and learning, just now you are working with students and adults. Schools have changed a lot and will continue to change. We’re all constantly learning,” she said.
Heyman embraces strategies that lead to more engaged learning. She recalls as a child her third-grade reading teacher, Lois Farmer, helping her and other students stay focused through art and music.
“She was a talented artist and musician. School was different. There were a lot of worksheets. But she would play the ukulele while we worked, and she would incorporate art into the class, and I loved it,” Heyman said.
As a principal, memories like that remind her of the importance of recognizing successful teaching methods and that it’s her job to make sure her teachers have access to the tools, training and materials to both innovate and keep up with educational shifts and trends.
Through Heyman’s integration of programs like Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words (SIPPS), CHES has seen improvement on its already strong reading and reading comprehension test scores.
When the school’s math teachers were given the opportunity to create a “wish list” of much-needed manipulatives — items designed to help students understand math concepts through hands-on activities — Heyman reached out to DeSoto County Schools and the CHES PTO, like she has so many times before, and made sure her teachers got everything they needed.
“She is a team player and a team builder. Collaboration is at the heart of her administrative style, and her communication skills and caring personality allow others to feel comfortable and solution-oriented. I respect her, and I learn from her daily,” said Kristy Hale, the school’s assistant principal.
Heyman was named principal of Center Hill Elementary in 2013. The school, located in the Olive Branch area, has consistently been among the highest performing elementary schools in the State of Mississippi since it opened in 2002.