Sorrento Primary School Selected as Finalist for National Institute for Excellence in Teaching’s Founder’s Award, $10,000 Cash Prize
March 12, 2026
School one of five nationwide recognized for outstanding efforts to foster educator excellence and advance student success, contending for a $50,000 grand prize
Sorrento, La. (March 12, 2026) - The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) announced today that Sorrento Primary School in Ascension Public Schools, Louisiana, won $10,000 for its selection as an NIET Founder’s Award finalist. The prestigious Founder’s Award was created by Lowell Milken in 2008 to honor one school in the United States each year for exceptional implementation of NIET’s principles to build educator excellence and advance student success. Sorrento Primary School is among five schools nationwide under consideration for the $50,000 grand prize, which will be announced at NIET’s national conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, on April 1, 2026.
“We celebrate Sorrento Primary School’s success under the leadership of Principal Honey Lundin,” said NIET Founder Lowell Milken. “Guided by a strong Instructional Leadership Team, teachers work together to set academic goals that connect daily professional learning to the needs of the classroom. Congratulations to Principal Lundin, Ascension Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Edith Walker, and the Sorrento Primary team for their commitment to building a culture of excellence.”
Founder’s Award finalists are selected by NIET based on several factors, including improving classroom instruction, creating high-quality professional learning focused on the real-time needs of teachers and students, and engaging teacher leaders and school leaders in building a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
By creating opportunities for teacher collaboration and individual coaching, Sorrento Primary School has increased student academic growth. The percentage of students achieving Mastery and above on the state assessments across all subjects increased by five points between 2023 and 2025, compared to a one point increase statewide in the same span. The campus’s School Performance Score has steadily increased in recent years, moving from 80 in 2019 to 89 in 2025.
“The leadership team at Sorrento Primary School is dedicated to building the capacity of all educators, including by providing opportunities for professional learning and creating a career pathway,” said NIET Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Barnett. “As a result of their efforts, teachers are increasing their effectiveness and students are guaranteed access to high-quality instruction.”
What Makes Sorrento Primary School Unique?
Sorrento Primary School is located in Ascension Parish, about halfway between Baton Rouge and New Orleans in Sorrento, Louisiana. The school educates just over 650 students ranging from prekindergarten to fifth grade, 65% of whom are economically disadvantaged. In partnering with NIET to implement the TAP System for Teacher and Student Advancement, Principal Honey Lundin and her leadership team are fostering a growth mindset and ensuring that all teachers and students have the individualized support they need to succeed.
As part of the TAP System, Sorrento Primary School has established weekly professional learning meetings led by teacher leaders, distributed leadership through an Instructional Leadership Team (ILT), and strengthened instruction with ongoing classroom coaching and support for teachers. These efforts ensure that students receive high-quality instruction across classrooms and grades.
“Through these NIET practices, our school continues to cultivate a culture where teachers are supported, motivated, and empowered to grow—benefiting both educators and students,” said Lundin. “Our teachers attribute their growth to NIET structures that help them deepen content knowledge, use student data to differentiate instruction, and reflect on instructional practices.”
The introduction of teacher leadership at Sorrento Primary School has resulted in a staff of instructional experts who understand the support teachers need to improve their classroom practices. Not only has teacher leadership increased the quality and frequency of coaching and feedback, but it has also created a career pathway for teachers. With support from teacher leaders and the pathway these roles provide, teacher retention and motivation at Sorrento Primary School have increased.
“Through the TAP System, I developed a deeper understanding of each role I have served—from career teacher to mentor, master teacher, and administrator,” said Lundin. “This has helped me lead with greater empathy and intention while building a clear pathway for teacher leadership.”
Sorrento Primary School has cultivated a collaborative, growth-oriented environment in which teachers and students work together to achieve excellence. As a result, the school is achieving goals and continuously striving to improve.
“NIET’s focus on building capacity has strengthened our teachers, expanded leadership within our school, and positively impacted student learning,” said Lundin. “Clear communication of data and goals to staff and stakeholders allows us to stay aligned and focused, while consistent monitoring keeps the work intentional.”
Sorrento Primary School joins fellow finalists Horizon Honors Elementary School (Horizon Honors Schools, Arizona); Marthaville Elementary & Junior High School (Natchitoches Parish School Board, Louisiana); Northview Middle School (Metropolitan School District of Washington Township, Indiana); and Riverwalk Academy (South Carolina Public Charter School District, South Carolina) in contention for the $50,000 Founder’s Award grand prize.
About NIET
The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) is a national nonprofit based in Arizona that serves states and districts nationwide. For 25 years, NIET has partnered with schools, districts, states, and universities to build educator excellence and give all students the opportunity for success. NIET’s initiatives, including the TAP System, teacher and leader development, school improvement, rubric and observation systems, and educator preparation, have impacted more than 350,000 educators and 3.5 million students across the U.S.