Western High principal gets national honor

Eleanor Matthews, principal of Western High School in Baltimore, was honored with a Terrel H. Bell Award for outstanding leadership this week in Washington. Matthews is one of two Maryland principals who received the award from the U.S. Department of Education that recognizes principals who "do whatever it takes to help their students meet high standards and are committed to the notion that in educating America's children, failure is no option," according to a statement issued Tuesday by the Department of Education. Raymond Myrtle, principal of Highland Elementary School in Silver Spring, also received the Bell award. Eight Bell awards were given out by the Department of Education and national associations of principals to public school principals this year.

- Liz Bowie