Newport Heights principal honored

Kurt Suhr, who is entering his third year as principal of Newport Heights Elementary School, has been selected to receive the Orange County Department of Education’s Outstanding Contributions to Education Award next month.

At a ceremony on Nov. 9, the department plans to honor Suhr at a reception at its headquarters. He is the second Newport-Mesa educator to be honored by the county this year, following Newport Coast Elementary School teacher Ingrid Ohanian in March.

“We have so many people at this school who are making fantastic things happen,” Suhr said. “I just feel fortunate to be part of a great team. It’s a very healthy community here, and I think it’s a wonderful educational opportunity we’re providing to the kids.”

The Department of Education presents the Outstanding Contributions awards six times a year. On Nov. 9, Suhr will be one of four honorees in the latest group.

Suhr was nominated for the award by Newport Heights music teacher Tamara Fairbanks, who has worked at the school for five years. In her statement to the Department of Education, Fairbanks praised her principal for bolstering Newport Heights’ programs both during and after school, and for encouraging arts learning on the campus.

“He really places an importance on music,” Fairbanks said. “As soon as the room was available, he was able to get me a classroom and make sure I had my own workspace. He’s a visionary as far as technology, as far as trying to get students to learn as best as they possibly can.”

A former assistant principal at Rea Elementary School, Suhr took the reins of Newport Heights in 2004 at a difficult time. Earlier that year, Principal Judith Chambers had left after a series of parental complaints, to be replaced by interim Principal Ken Killian. When Suhr moved to Newport Heights in the fall, he announced plans to improve the school’s technology and adopt the Accelerated Reader program to encourage students to complete more books.

During Suhr’s tenure, Newport Heights has adopted a five-year technology plan and implemented hand-held computers and other devices in class. In addition, the school has also adopted after-school programs.

Parent Gail Standt, who oversees many of the programs, said Suhr’s leadership helped to keep the school’s resources strong.

“If he has a program and it’s part of his vision, he helps support it and nurtures the program,” she said. “Obviously, he can’t do it alone, but everyone’s willing to support him because they know their efforts will pay off.”