Monica Ouly-Uhl, assistant principal of Orefield Middle School, has been named Pennsylvania’s 2020 Assistant Principal of the Year.

She received the award for the considerable contributions she has made to the profession, most notably for her leadership in establishing an anti-bullying program and a positive schoolwide behavioral support program at Orefield Middle School.

Ouly-Uhl was nominated by her supervisor, Todd Gombos, principal of Orefield Middle School.

“The kickoff event for our schoolwide anti-bullying program is hands-down one of the best, most beloved days of the school year,” Gombos stated.

Teambuilding activities and class chats that discuss emotions, feelings and how to stand up for kindness are held at the beginning of the day.

Then, for the culminating event, a band of Orefield Middle School teachers and former students perform rock songs around an anti-bullying theme that changes annually.

Ouly-Uhl creates a video that helps support the theme for the year as part of the stage show and she infuses clips of famous individuals who speak about how bullying affected them when they were younger.

They share how they overcame it and how their experience did not deter them from reaching their dreams.

Ouly-Uhl has also been credited for starting a kindness initiative by raising funds and handing out gift cards to people at stores during the holiday and asking them to “pay it forward” with kindness.

She also designed community-minded Parkland Pride shirts for the entire community to wear to foster districtwide spirit among staff, students and families.

Ouly-Uhl commented when she learned of the honor.

“I am extremely honored, and thankful to Todd for nominating me,” Ouly-Uhl said.

“His support has allowed us to do great things at Orefield Middle School and bond as an administrative team.

“There are eight other amazing assistant principals in the Parkland School District who do wonderful things for students.

“I am grateful I will be able to use this nomination as a way to represent all of us, and showcase the awesome things happening at Parkland.”

Ouly-Uhl will be honored at the Pennsylvania Principals Association’s State Conference in October 2020 and her nomination will be submitted to the National Association for inclusion with other state winners in the competition for the 2020 National Association of Secondary School Principals National Assistant Principal of the Year Award.