Distinguished School, Distinguished Leadership: UWG Alumni-Led School Celebrated for Excellence Share this page
At Winston Elementary School (WES), success is a community effort, and that spirit just earned the school one of the state’s top honors, recently being named a Georgia Department of Education (DOE) Title I Distinguished School.
WES is guided by Principal Heather George ’08 and Assistant Principal Will McAlexander ’08 ’12, both alumni of the University of West Georgia, who help shape the next generation with the values and vision they gained while on campus.
“Being named a Title I Distinguished School is a testament to the hard work, dedication and resilience of WES’ entire community – students, teachers, staff and families,” George began. “Earning this honor demonstrates their shared commitment to overcoming challenges while further fueling their passion to ensure every child has the opportunity to achieve, learn and grow.”
According to the Georgia DOE, the Distinguished Schools designation honors the top-performing Title I schools in the state for their outstanding academic achievement. These schools rank in the top 5% of all Title I schools in Georgia based on excellence in English language arts and math performance on statewide assessment.
Earlier this year, Winston earned national recognition when it was named a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education – one of only 356 public schools in the country to receive the honor and one of 10 in the state. This places WES among the top half percent of the nation’s 96,000 public elementary, middle and high schools.
The key factors to both distinctions, George explained, include a strong commitment to academic excellence and student growth, closing achievement gaps, a strong culture of high expectations and continuous improvement, and family and community engagement.
McAlexander added that fostering this culture of academic excellence starts with creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.
“The level of excellence that led to our recognition is truly a community effort,” he continued. “While we make data-driven decisions, we also remember the human side of education – building trust and fostering a positive school culture – and promote the importance of kindness, empathy and leadership. Winston is a place where academic and personal growth go hand in hand.”
Both George and McAlexander credit UWG’s College of Education – which was recently named among the top 10 largest in the country and celebrated its 50th anniversary – for its rigorous academic programs that prepared them for educational leadership roles by providing a strong foundation in instructional leadership, organizational management, and student-centered decision-making instruction and the ability to foster a positive school culture.
And they’re not lone Wolves – 39% of WES’ 2024-25 faculty and staff are UWG alumni.
“The University of West Georgia instilled in me the importance of lifelong learning and professional growth,” George shared. “By integrating research-based best practices and innovative leadership approaches learned at UWG, I’m able to make a meaningful impact in my role and contribute to the success of my entire school community.”
McAlexander expressed deep gratitude toward his UWG professors and mentors.
“Their guidance taught me the importance of continuous learning, and I strive to pass that on as the educational leader I am today,” he concluded. “I use the lessons I learned – whether in a classroom or personal interactions – every day in my role as assistant principal. Thank you for believing in me and giving me the tools to make a difference in the lives of students.”