Syracuse University School of Education alumnus Joshua Dann G’07 has been selected as the 2026 New York State High School Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS). Principal of Saranac Lake High School, Dann is a graduate of SOE’s Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership.
The Principal of the Year award is presented by SAANYS and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) to a secondary principal who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, and commitment to student success. Dann advances as New York’s candidate for the National High School Principal of the Year award, sponsored by NASSP.
“We are thrilled for Josh that he is being honored as the SAANYS High School Principal of the Year. What an honor!” says Professor George Theoharis. “Our schools need leaders, like Josh, who are deeply committed to their students and their communities. We take very seriously the preparation of school leaders, the role Syracuse University can play in their development, and the connections our alumni bring to schools across the region, state, and country. Congratulations Josh!”
In honoring Dann, the SAANYS awards committee notes that when he assumed his leadership position 13 years ago, he began by listening closely to students, staff, and families. Through forums, classroom visits, community conversations, and data analysis, he identified a shared need for stronger relationships, clearer expectations, and a more supportive learning environment.
“Our schools need leaders, like Josh, who are deeply committed to their students and their communities.”
Professor George Theoharis
“Everything started with understanding what our students and teachers were experiencing,” Dann explains. “From there, we focused on building a culture where everyone feels valued and connected.”
One of the most notable cultural shifts occurred in 2023 with the implementation of a school-wide cell phone ban, an initiative shaped by student feedback and staff observations about the impact of digital distraction.
“Our goal was to help students be more present,” Dann tells SAANYS. “We wanted a learning environment where social pressure decreased and human connection increased.” Since the policy’s introduction, Dann says the school has seen more engaged classrooms, strengthened peer relationships, and a noticeable improvement in overall tone.
Dann’s leadership also has expanded academic opportunities. He developed an Academic Support Program providing daily interventions for at-risk students, contributing to significant improvements in achievement and graduation outcomes. The school’s four-year graduation rate has risen to as high as 99% in 2021 and 95% in 2024.
SAANYS also observes that equity remains central to Dann’s leadership philosophy. He has strengthened his school’s Multi-Tiered System of Support, expanded student leadership opportunities, implemented trauma-informed staff training, and prioritized family engagement, ensuring that communication, decision-making, and planning reflect the diverse needs of the district’s 685-square-mile community.
Dann also emphasizes shared leadership, creating structures for authentic voice and participation among students and staff. Senior student couriers, school board student representatives, and a staff leadership committee all play roles in shaping school operations and policy. Teachers lead professional development, collaborate on curriculum design, and pilot instructional innovations. “Leadership grows where trust grows,” Dann notes. “My job is to build the systems where people feel empowered to step forward.”
Beyond academics and culture, SAANYS notes that “Dann’s community impact is profound.” For 11 years, he has helped raise more than $300,000 through an annual Turkey Trot to support the Saranac Lake Student Needs Fund …
Learn more about the CAS in Educational Leadership, or contact Professor George Theoharis at gtheohar@syr.edu.