Folsom Middle School principal receives honor

The principal of Folsom Middle School has been named the 2025 National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Advocacy Champion of the Year. Terri Daniels received the honor. She has more than 40 years of experience in private and public schools. The NASSP praised Daniels for being instrumental in the early development of the Local Control Accountability Plan and the implementation of Common Core, ensuring these initiatives aligned with the diverse needs of students and educators. Daniels was also praised for being an advocate for students with disabilities, working to strengthen protections under IDEA and Section 504, and ensure equitable access to quality education for all students. Additionally, Daniels was recognized for advocating for mental health services in schools, pushing for greater resources to address student mental health challenges. She has also been a leader in promoting restorative justice and Multi-Tiered System of Supports. As the California state representative for NASSP, she has worked to maintain and increase federal funding, support mental health initiatives and strengthen the teacher-administrator pipeline. "When educators step into advocacy roles, we transform educational policy with the authentic expertise that can only come from daily school experience," said Daniels. "Receiving the NASSP Advocacy Champion of the Year Award fuels my commitment to continue building bridges between policymakers and the educational leaders who understand what our students need to succeed." The NASSP Advocacy Champion of the Year Award recognizes an individual for outstanding and significant contributions to advancing the organization's policy agenda and advocating on behalf of all school leaders to ensure the success of each student.