LENOX — Superintendent Dr. William Collins and the Lenox Public Schools are proud to announce that Morris Elementary School Principal Brenda Kelley has been named a 2025 National Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP).
Kelley is one of only 43 principals nationwide — and the only honoree from Massachusetts — selected for the prestigious award, which recognizes elementary and middle-level school leaders who set high standards for instruction, student achievement, character, and school climate.
Kelley has served as Principal of Morris Elementary for four years and has been a school administrator for a decade. Prior to becoming a principal, she worked for 13 years as a reading specialist.
During her career, Kelley has been recognized as a strong instructional leader who builds school communities centered on literacy, collaboration, and equity. At Morris Elementary, she guided her staff through the difficult transition to distance learning, helping educators adopt new technology and designing a summer learning program to preserve student progress. Under her leadership, Morris Elementary received the 2025 Exemplary Reading Program Award from the Massachusetts Reading Association.
Kelley is also known for her student-first approach, ensuring that children have access to opportunities in and out of the classroom. She has worked to reduce barriers to participation in extracurricular activities by supporting families with financial needs.
"We are so incredibly proud of Principal Kelley and to see her recognized on the national stage," said Superintendent Collins. "Principal Kelley is a true champion for students and staff. Her leadership, compassion, and commitment to literacy and inclusion have strengthened Morris Elementary and the entire Lenox Public Schools community."
Kelley holds a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Language and Literacy from Simmons University, a Master of Education from Cambridge College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from North Adams State College.
In 2024, Principal Kelley was also named the Massachusetts School Administrators Association’s Elementary Principal of the Year.
The National Distinguished Principals program was established in 1984 to honor exemplary elementary and middle-level principals in public and private schools across the country.
"It is incredibly humbling to be recognized by the National Association of Elementary School Principals," said Principal Kelley. "I am so proud to serve a school community that values learning, supports one another, and always puts children at the center of everything we do. This award is truly a recognition of what we have accomplished together as administrators, teachers, staff, students, and families, who collectively make Morris such a special place."