After the surprise announcement was made Monday, Princeville Montessori School Principal Amy Marshall-Brown spent some time wrapping her head around the fact that she was selected as Edgecombe County Public Schools’ Principal of the Year.

“I didn’t think of anyone else thinking of me as doing something big,” Marshall-Brown said with her eyes full of tears.

Central office staff, including Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon, Diane LeFiles, Barbara Hardison, Marilyn Newkirk, Curtis Jones, Roland Whitted and Karen Dameron, joined Marshall-Brown’s husband James Brown in making a surprise visit to the school.

The group came unexpectedly into a Red Ribbon Week drug/alcohol prevention assembly in the school’s multipurpose room with a balloon and flowers.

After receiving the news and recognizing the guests, the only words she could muster up with a smile on her face was, “Thank you.”

Marshall-Brown said that she was confident that she does a good job at school, but wasn’t confident about receiving the honor as Principal of the Year.

When finding out she was a finalist, she kept the interview with the judges a secret from everyone.

Tarboro High Principal Lisa Cooke and West Edgecombe Middle Principal Laverne Daniels were the other finalists that were considered for the title.

“I work hard, I love what I’m doing and I love the children, but when I think of Principal of the Year, and I look at my colleagues …,” Marshall-Brown said shaking her head.

“If I can attribute this to anyone, I can attribute it to my staff, excellent parents and top-notch students.”

Principal of the Year is peer-nominated on the district level. The overall state competition is sponsored by Wachovia and awards each county recipient receives $150 from Wachovia and a $1,000 bonus from the district.

To be considered for the title, principals must submit a portfolio on their leadership inside and outside of the school.

Marshall-Brown has a chance to advance to the regional and state levels, which will require submitting more materials to prove her commitment to the position and respect among her students, colleagues and the overall community.

After being recognized for her work at the school, Marshall-Brown reflected on what she considered her biggest accomplishment since becoming principal at Princeville Montessori.

She turned the focus back to her students and staff and said that she was most proud of the school recently making AYP (adequate yearly progress) on the federal testing scale.

“We had been in school improvement, and we knew we had a lot of hurdles to cross,” she said.

“Everyone pulled together. Our students have really come fourth, and our staff has worked hard.”

The staff and the students are motivators for Marshal-Brown to come to school and give it all she has.

“When I get up in the morning I’m ready to come to school and be with my students and staff,” she said.

Whether they’ve been working with her for a couple of years or several years, the teachers at Princeville Montessori had similar things to say about Marshall-Brown.

Second-grade teacher Kristen Williams has been at the school for two years and recalled the welcoming attitude Marshall-Brown had when she arrived.

“From the first day I met her, I knew she would be someone I could go to,” Williams said.

“If I needed anything, right away she was on top it. She would do her best to get it done.”

Kindergarten teacher Shelia Mayo DeLoatch has been working at Princeville Montessori for nine years, so she was there when Marshall-Brown first came to the school. DeLoatch also had Marshall-Brown as her sixth-grade teacher at Martin Middle School, and said she’s still the same person but has grown professionally.

“She was a leader when I was in sixth-grade as well, but she has grown a lot … she still shows that caring spirit for the students,” she said.

Marshall-Brown was a classroom teacher for 24 years prior to taking the post at South Edgecombe Middle as assistant principal for two years and SouthWest High for one year. She has been at Princeville Montessori for four years.

She has 29 years of educational experience is current president of the local Principals an Assistant Principals Association.

Marshall-Brown and her husband have five children and six grandchildren.