BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Baldwin County High School Principal Johnny Cabaniss has been named the 2011 Principal of the Year for the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools.

“I was flattered,” Cabaniss said in a telephone interview. “I just really felt honored.”

The principal shared credit for the award with his staff at the school.

“I take it as an honor, and I just feel privileged because we’ve got an incredible teaching staff and administrative staff,” he said. “They’re strong, diligent, hard-working, caring individuals. They’re the ones who make the difference. I just surround myself with good people.”

Baldwin County Public Schools spokesman Terry Wilhite, said in a telephone interview that Cabaniss’ honor came when the state council asked Baldwin County Board of Education to select a principal deserving of the distinction.

“According to annual yearly progress reports, the campus was in trouble with No Child Left Behind requirements,” he recalled. “In working with state and district administration, Mr. Cabaniss was able to lead a significant turn-around there and the school’s headed in the opposite direction. No Child Left Behind is very stringent and is more so every year because it’s an ever escalating target. It was an amazing turn-around and Mr. Cabaniss led that.”

Wilhite said Cabaniss will be presented with a certification of commendation at an upcoming school board meeting.

BCHS principal’s office assistant Patricia Phillipy is deserving of the award.

“I’ve been working with him since 1987,” she said. “I was at the middle school with him when he was a teacher and then a principal. He’s wonderful to work with. He did deserve to be Principal of the Year. He’s very much for the students. He’s the type that works with them.”