STUART, Va. — An area educator has been chosen as Virginia’s top high school principal.

E.G. Bradshaw, who has headed Patrick County High School since 1999, was named Outstanding High School Principal of Virginia for 2009 by the state Association of Secondary School Principals.

Patrick County High, south of Stuart, has about 1,000 students in grades eight through 12.

A nominating committee unanimously selected Bradshaw for the honor and the principal association’s board of directors accepted that choice. Officials of the organization indicated that the PCHS principal excels in core areas involving collaborative leadership, curriculum and instruction.

Candidates for the outstanding principal award are evaluated based on their leadership in seven different areas. Among them are a willingness to take risks in improving student learning, involve the community in the life of the school and use community resources for students, demonstrate creativity in generating positive change and move actively to implement school goals and objectives.

Other factors include their abilities to anticipate emerging problems and act in effective ways to resolve them, collaboratively work with teachers and staff to improve the educational program and student achievement and ensure the school climate is positive and reflects high staff and student morale.

Bradshaw said that while the top principal award is an individual honor, he believes it reflects the work of a dedicated school staff to achieve excellence in and out of the classroom, supportive parents and an overall community dedication to educating all youths.

The veteran educator had been encouraged by fellow principals to apply for the award because they thought his hard work and leadership deserved special recognition.