Two ACSA members will represent California as state finalists for the 2025 Principal of the Year Program run by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Terri Daniels, principal of Folsom Middle School (Folsom Cordova USD), is a finalist for Middle School Principal of the Year. Efa Huckaby, principal of Liberty Union High School (Liberty Union High School District), is a finalist for High School Principal of the Year.

New this year, NASSP is honoring one principal at the high school level and one principal at the middle school level. Previously, one principal was selected from either level for each state.

As ACSA winners for Principal of the Year in their respective categories, Daniels and Huckaby will represent California at UnitED, the National Conference on School Leadership, which will be held July 11–13, Seattle.

As principal of Folsom Middle School since 2019, Daniels has made it her priority to ensure that every student is given opportunities to achieve and succeed. She’s committed to sustaining a pyramid of support that provides strategic interventions during the school day. She is committed to effective first instruction yet ensures that extra help is accessible to students who need it. She is a strong advocate for inclusion in both academics and extracurriculars, and implemented a buddy system that pairs general ed students with special education students.

As principal of Liberty Union High School, Huckaby has implemented research-supported best practices to ensure that the school’s instructional methods align with the latest research. He uses student performance data to identify areas of improvement and necessary interventions to meet students’ individual learning needs. Huckaby also supports a positive school culture on his campus — his school’s Wellness Center provides counseling services and support systems for students to express themselves and seek mental health assistance.