For the third year in a row, a national Principal of the Year award is going to a Georgia principal. Dr. Sheila Kahrs, of Haymon-Morris Middle School in Barrow County received the award on Wednesday.

"The fact that a National Principal of the Year has come from Georgia for three consecutive years is a testament to the quality of our school leaders in Georgia," State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox said.

Superintendent Cox and officials from the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) surprised Kahrs during an assembly at her school. Cox and the State Board of Education presented Kahrs with a plaque during the ceremony.

Kahrs was named Georgia Middle School Principal of the Year earlier this year.

Mark Wilson, of Morgan County High School, was the NASSP High School Principal of the Year for 2009 and Molly Howard, of Jefferson County High School, was the NASSP High School Principal of the Year for 2008.

Tags: Georgia, Barrow County, State Board of Education, Kathy Cox, Haymon-Morris Middle School, Sheila Kahrs, Principal of the Year, State Superintendent of Schools, National Association of Secondary School Principals, award, NASSP