David Hamilton, Cumberland Gap High School Principal, Named Field Award Recipient
David Hamilton, Cumberland Gap High School Principal, Named Field Award Recipient
David Hamilton, Principal at Cumberland Gap High School in the Claiborne County School District, has been named as recipient of William J. and Lucille H. Field Award for Excellence in Secondary Principalship for the State of Tennessee.
The Field Award was established to recognize one outstanding secondary school leader each year who demonstrates leadership excellence through commitment to the values of civility, candor, courage, social justice, responsibility, compassion, community, persistence, service, and excellence. Administered by the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences at the University of Tennessee, the Field Award identifies a Tennessee secondary school principal whose life and work are characterized by leadership excellence and encourages secondary school principals to pause and reflect upon their current leadership practice and to consider their experience, challenges, and opportunities in light of the personal values that they embody.
The Field Award recipient for this year is David Hamilton, Principal at Cumberland Gap High School (CGHS) in the Claiborne County School District. Hamilton has served as the principal of CGHS since 2019, and served as the school’s assistant principal from 2003-2018. During that time, he developed and implemented a program that significantly improved student transition and retention, organized initiatives that paired students and community mentors, spearheaded fundraising efforts that raised over $20,000 for student resources and facility upgrades, and established a year-round food and hygiene pantry that ensures students have access to essential resources. Hamilton served as a high school health and physical education teacher in the Claiborne County School District from 1999-2003 and coached high school baseball teams between 2003-2006, and again between 2015-2018. Hamilton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education, and Masters of Arts and Educational Specialist degrees in Educational Administration and Supervision, all from Lincoln Memorial University. The department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is proud to name David Hamilton as this year’s Field Award Winner. Congratulations!
