Orange High Principal Jason Johnson Named 2026 National Principal of Year
Orange High School’s Jason Johnson has been named the 2026 National High School Principal of the Year, representing North Carolina on the national stage.
HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA — Jason Johnson, principal of Orange High School, has been named the 2026 National High School Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
The announcement was made last week during the association’s leadership awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Johnson, who previously earned the title of North Carolina’s 2025 Principal of the Year, was chosen from a competitive field of state-level winners across the nation.
25-Year Education Veteran
Johnson brings 25 years of experience in classroom instruction and educational administration to his leadership role. He returned to Orange High School in 2021 after serving as a coach with North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction.
Before his current position, Johnson held leadership roles in both Chatham and Guilford counties. His career path demonstrates a commitment to educational excellence across multiple North Carolina school districts.
State and National Recognition
In accepting the national honor, Johnson emphasized the collaborative effort behind his success. “This award validates the work we are doing across the state of North Carolina, and it affirms the direction set by the North Carolina State Board of Education and Superintendent Mo Green,” Johnson said in a statement.
State Superintendent Mo Green praised Johnson’s leadership approach, describing him as a “transformational and collaborative leader” in response to the national recognition.
As North Carolina’s principal of the year, Johnson has served as an ambassador and advocate for public schools throughout the state. His new national role will expand that advocacy platform across the country.
National Ceremony Honors Four Educators
Johnson was recognized alongside three other top educators during the Washington ceremony. Sonia Ruiz, a principal from Illinois, received the national middle school principal award. Two assistant principals from Tennessee and Wisconsin were also honored for their work addressing student discipline and closing achievement gaps.
NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe highlighted the real-world impact of effective school leadership. “In education, we talk a lot about closing gaps and building culture,” Nozoe said. “But these four leaders actually did it in real schools, with real kids, under real constraints. That’s not a small thing. Effective principals like them add up to three additional months of learning a year for their students. That difference is life changing.”
North Carolina announced nine regional finalists for the 2026 North Carolina Principal of the Year award earlier this year. The statewide winner will be selected during a ceremony scheduled for May 15 in Cary.
