Jayme Braida of Knoxville has been recognized as a National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Distinguished Principal.
NAESP recognizes accomplished elementary and middle-level principals from across the nation and abroad as a part of its annual National Distinguished Principal program. The 2025 class of NDPs will be honored during a two-day event in Washington, D.C. that culminates with an awards banquet on October 24. Braida will represent Iowa at the 2025 National Distinguished Principal Awards Ceremony. She was recently named a 2025 National Distinguished Principal, earning the opportunity to join 42 other principals from across the country to be recognized by NAESP.
Earlier this year, Braida was also honored as the 2025 Iowa Elementary Principal of the Year by School Administrators of Iowa (SAI). Braida is the principal at Columbus Elementary in Chariton. A release regarding the award states “a resilient and purpose-driven leader, Braida’s own journey fuels her passion for equity and student-centered leadership. Since 2022, she has fostered a culture at Columbus Elementary where every student is seen, heard, and valued. She holds high expectations for all learners and believes in continuous improvement, grounded in the power of connection, belonging, and possibility for every student to thrive.”
Principal honorees are selected by NAESP state affiliates and by committees representing private and overseas schools. Criteria for selection of the principals require that the honorees are
active principals of schools where programs are designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students and where there are firmly established community ties with parents and local business organizations.
