Acting as if they were members of the Publisher’s Clearing House prize patrol, members of the Surry County School Board of Education and staff surprised the principal of East Surry High School, Diane Beane, Friday morning with the news that she had been named principal of the year.

Beane showed clear surprise when greeted in the main hall of the school by officials bearing flowers and singing “Congratulations to you” to the tune of Happy Birthday.

“I am honored to be selected as principal of the year because we have what I believe is the most outstanding leadership team in the state of North Carolina,” Beane said. “All you have to do is be with us as we are working together as a team in our leadership team meetings to see the sense of camaraderie that is there and the sense of support that we give each other and the support that we get from our central office and our board of education. So for me this is a huge honor and I can’t thank you all enough.”

Beane received flowers and a T-shirt from WIFM radio station, a new Dell laptop computer, ear buds for an iPod, a cell phone charger and a Surry County Schools cooler bag.

Beane has been in administration with Surry County Schools for six years. She was principal of Flat Rock Elementary for two years before going to East Surry in January of this year. She is a 1979 graduate of East Surry High School and started teaching in 1984. She is married to Randy Beane and has one son, Andrew. She said her mother, Polly Love, a retired teacher, has been a great influence in her life as well.

“I feel a bit overwhelmed and completely excited. This is an honor to be selected as Principal of the Year for Surry County Schools because we have such an outstanding group of principals and administrators throughout the county,” Beane said.

Dr. Ashley Hinson, superintendent of Surry County Schools, said Beane is deserving of the award.

“I believe that Mrs. Beane exemplifies what I believe every school system looks for in a principal. She is experienced in every phase of her job. I believe what has gotten her to this point as far as her leadership has been what has happened over at Flat Rock over the past three years. She took that school to heights that were recognized by the Piedmont Triad Education Consortium,” Hinson said.

The Principal of the Year is nominated, then is chosen by a panel, which is made up of community members, and school board members and staff.

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.