Spotlight of the Week: Lynne Stark – A Champion for Students, Staff, and School Culture
At Vincent Elementary School in Lorain, Ohio, one leader is transforming education through purpose, passion, and perseverance. Lynne Stark, Principal of Vincent Elementary School (VES), has been recognized as the 2024 National Distinguished Principal of the Year, a well-deserved honor that reflects her unwavering commitment to student success and school-wide growth.
Under Stark’s leadership, Vincent Elementary has become a nurturing space where students and staff feel seen, heard, and supported. Her approach to leadership is rooted in affirmation, dialogue, and collaboration, and her vision of education goes far beyond test scores. For Stark, leadership is about shaping a community that believes in each child’s potential and invests in their holistic development.
When the school returned to in-person learning after the pandemic, many students faced significant learning gaps that threatened their academic trajectories. Stark responded not with panic, but with proactive planning and strategic innovation. She led a vertical realignment of the school’s curriculum, guided her team through a transformation of the school’s vision and mission, and reimagined what daily learning could look like for every child.
With the introduction of a revamped intervention system, and through the collaborative efforts of co-teachers and academic coaches, Vincent Elementary students are now experiencing remarkable academic growth. At the same time, Stark’s leadership extends beyond academics. Recognizing the importance of social and emotional development, she introduced a structured recess management system. This initiative has reduced disciplinary referrals, fostered positive peer interactions, and provided students with meaningful opportunities to build social skills through organized games and counselor engagement.
Before becoming principal, Stark held a variety of roles that enriched her perspective, elementary teacher, university student teaching supervisor, early childhood education program coordinator, and instructional coach. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Purdue University and an M.Ed. in Educational Administration from Ashland University.
For Lynne Stark, the recent recognition of Vincent Elementary as an Ohio Hall of Fame School is more than an accolade—it’s a badge of pride that reflects years of hard work, vision, and heart.
As she continues to lead with courage and creativity, one thing is clear: Lynne Stark is not just building a school, she’s building a legacy.
