Prospect Point principal honored

Prospect Point Principal named regional Distinguished Principal
Prospect Point Elementary Principal Chris Gardea was recently selected Distinguished Elementary Principal for the Lake Wallula Region for 2014. Gardea is now eligible for the National Distinguished Principal award to be decided next Fall.

Nominators said Chris Gardea is a visionary, goal-oriented and focused on closing the achievement gap. His nominators went on to say he has experience with coordinating school-wide efforts and promoting instructional change through the implementation of the Common Core Standards with elementary math curriculum. Gardea is technology savvy and is an expert with Google for Education computer applications.

“Chris Gardea is an outstanding principal and we are just glad to have him in our district,” said Superintendent Dr. Bill Jordan. “He’s dynamic, works hard and pays close attention to how the students in his school receive the best service possible.”

Gardea has been Principal at Prospect Point since 2008. During his time as principal of Prospect Point Elementary the school has earned the Center of Educational Effectiveness School of Distinction award two times, as well as being a Washington Achievement Award Winner in the area of Science. Gardea served as Assistant Principal at Prospect Point from 2004-2007. He was Walla Walla Public Schools Director of Mathematics during the 2003-2004 school year.

Gardea spent three years as a classroom mathematics teacher at Pioneer Middle School. He served as an Administrative Intern at Pioneer Middle School from 2001 to 2002. Gardea held classroom teaching positions in Waitsburg School District from 1998 to 2000 and College Place School District from 1997 to 1998.

He holds an Continuing Principal Certificate. He earned his Master’s in Educational Leadership from Eastern Washington University (EWU) and also completed his undergraduate studies at EWU. Gardea is a member of the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).

“The Walla Walla School District has offered me opportunities and guidance throughout my career that are irreplaceable,” Gardea said. “I could not be where I am without my family, and the staff and students of Prospect Point Elementary. I would not be able to do my job without these people and the support and encouragement they give me daily.”