How Birchview Elementary Principal Changed a School’s Culture
As the school year winds down, it’s easy to think that students and staff would have summer vacation on their minds.
But there’s excitement in the air at Birchview Elementary School in Plymouth.
“Well it’s a huge deal,” said Aaron Benesh, a second-grade teacher at Birchview. “It brings Birchview to light, it brings Wayzata Public Schools to light.”
After all, not every school can claim that they have an MVP as their leader. Or to be more specific, an NDP.
“I’ve told a lot of my family and friends. They’ve been able to celebrate too because I feel proud to work at a school that the principal holds the ‘NDP,'” said Shelbie Smieja, a fifth-grade teacher at Birchview.
That principal is Ashley Farrington, who was just named the National Association of Elementary School Principals’ 2025 National Distinguished Principal (NDP) from Minnesota. The honor comes courtesy of the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association.
“Man, it’s still been a whirlwind since I was elected to be the NDP, but just a lot of excitement,” said Farrington. “Definitely a lot of moments to reflect on all the good work that we’re doing here.”
All around the building, you’ll see the phrase “you matter.” It was part of Farrington’s rebranding effort centered around creating a culture of belonging and achievement.
Teachers say it has worked.
Birchview fifth-grade teacher Shelbie Smieja calls her principal, Ashley Farrington, a mentor.
“Through his leadership, it’s something we all really believe and we promote,” said Smieja.
“Everyone’s kind of bought in. So when he says, and when we say “you matter,” and we see it on the walls of the school and we embed in our expectations and build it within our community, I think parents and families feel it as well,” said Benesh.
CCX News first met Farrington in 2020 as a first-year principal navigating the COVID-19 protocols.
“Who would have signed up to be a principal in the middle of the pandemic,” Farrington said back then.
He took on that challenge and succeeded.
Five years later, the school has seen academic progress in things like reading proficiency.
But above all else, students and staff alike look up to him.
“He’s a mentor to me,” said Smieja. “He sees me as a future leader and so I’ve had a lot of growth as a teacher and someone early in her career, and so I just want to thank him for that and all the work that he’s put into me and everything he sees in me.”
“I’m just proud of him and proud of what we’ve built here at Birchview together,” added Benesh.
One principal from each state is selected every year as a National Distinguished Principal. Farrington and the others will be honored in Washington, D.C., in October.
Ashley Farrington’s ‘NDP’ award is displayed proudly in his office.
