Local principal recognized as one of the best in Idaho

SHELLEY — One of Shelley’s elementary schools officially has one of the best principals in the state.

Ben Lemons, Riverview Elementary School’s principal, received the 2021 Idaho Distinguished Principal award from the Idaho Association of Administrators.

“The job of principals is to help teachers be the best that they can. And when you have quality principals like Mr. Lemons, what more can you ask for?” Shelley Superintendent Chad Williams said.

According to the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the award is given to principals ‘who ensure that America’s children acquire a sound foundation for lifelong learning and achievement. Each year, NAESP congratulates principals from across the nation, in both public and private schools, and overseas, for their exemplary achievements.’

Lemons will represent Idaho at the National Distinguished Principal awards in Washington DC later this year.

“I don’t do anything to get accolades or honors. I am who I am. I do what I do every day. So to receive this honor was humbling,” Lemons told Community Pioneer.

Lemons said the people who actually deserve the award are the teachers and staff he works with.

“We have people at Riverview Elementary that I not only consider great educators, I consider them some of the finest people that I know,” Lemons said.

He explained his philosophy towards being a principal is to get out of his teachers’ way and give them what they need to succeed.

“You wholeheartedly believe in the ability of students. You give teachers what they need and support them and magic will happen,” he said.

Lemons came to Shelley when Riverview Elementary first opened its doors in 2010 under then Superintendant Brian Jolly. He has been in education for 25 years. His first school administration job was at Jefferson Elementary in Rigby.

“It was a great place to learn, but when the Shelley job came open I was ecstatic. I got to open that building with Brian Jolly in that great Shelley Community,” Lemons said.

Over the nearly 11 years Lemons has been the principal of Riverview Elementary, he has worked to build a culture of love inside the school.

“My overreaching goal is to get my staff to say one word, and to feel one word, and that word is ‘love.’ When you start hearing your staff and students using the world ‘love’ a lot in school, you know your life’s work is starting to come to fruition,” Lemons said.

Lemons will be recognized at the 2021 IASA Leadership Conference this summer. The winner of the National Distinguished Principal award will be decided during National Principals Month in October.