Hats off to top U.S. principal

Managing more than 3,000 high school students taking more than 250 different courses on a 100-acre campus is the mark of a commendable principal.

Being named the best secondary school principal in the nation moves that principal from "commendable" to "extraordinary." Judging from her accomplishments, and the award that acknowledged those accomplishments, Lucy Beckham, principal of Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, is indeed extraordinary at what she does.

In a surprise ceremony this week, she received notice of her award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Under her guidance, the state's largest school has moved into a new building, established individual career-related schools within Wando and been named one of the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

Its band? The best in the country. Its culinary arts programs won national honors also.

Wando does have an advantage: 39 percent of its students are designated as gifted and talented. But that doesn't diminish the school's other achievements. Ninety-four percent of the 2008 graduating class attended college. Students in that class were awarded more than $12 million in scholarships.

Mrs. Beckham gave credit to teachers, students, parents and the community for the school's successes. That is more than modesty; support from talented and loyal people goes a long way.

But those loyalties have to be earned, and it is Mrs. Beckham who has led Wando for the past 11 years.

We hope she will continue to run a school that makes the district proud and turn out students equipped to be tomorrow's success stories.