SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Rockwell Elementary’s Principal Robbie Owen nabbed the title of National Distinguished Principal for the State of Alabama for 2008, school officials announced this week.

Owen will represent the state at the national convention in Washington, D.C., in October. Each nominee was nominated by principals from one of the state’s 10 districts. Owen was notified two weeks ago that he had been awarded the honor.

“It’s a huge honor basically to be selected by your peers. It’s more of a tribute to our school because they (the committee) come to see the school and what has been accomplished,” Owen said in a phone interview Monday. “By me being able to get this award, it is a tribute to this community. It’s great to be part of Spanish Fort.”

The National Distinguished Principals Program is sponsored by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. Owen has been the principal of Rockwell Elementary ever since the school first opened 11 years ago in 1997. He was informed that the nominee list had been narrowed down, and he was one of the top three candidates.

“That’s probably when I was most excited — to hear that I was one of three,” he said.

When it was announced that he was chosen as the winner over the intercom at school all the students cheered.

“I was excited,” he said. “As new as Spanish Fort is and Rockwell is, to put together two fine elementary schools and an outstanding high school, people in Spanish Fort should be proud of what they have.”

After he was nominated, Owen had to fill out and submit an application form. Once the top three principals were chosen, the committee performs a school site visit. The committee reviews the principal’s experience, professional activities, awards, service to the community, service to parents and the academic success of the school, he said.

Owen said this consisted of officials interviewing eight or nine groups consisting of the school system’s central office staff, parents, students and community leaders. They also saw how Owen interacted with the students.

“I didn’t do it, but it was the parents, faculty and staff we have,” he said.

Owen will attend festivities in Washington, D.C., in October and will be a guest at a formal banquet where he will be recognized along with 5l representatives from all states, plus the District of Columbia.

In November, Owen will be also be recognized by the Alabama Association of School Administrators and will be presented with an award. The NDP program was established in 1984 to honor exemplary elementary and middle school principals who set the character, quality and pace of the education children receive during their early school years and is held annually, according to the Web site.

Interviews were held with Baldwin County school board member Tracy Roberts, Superintendent Faron Hollinger, Asst. Superintendent Terry Knight, Denise Smith, a former PTA president and school board member. It also included Ed Dismukes with SFEEF, former Daphne Mayor Harry Brown, Sue Gober with the University of Mobile School of Education, Spanish Fort Police Chief David Edgar, Albert Thomas with the University of South Alabama, Sandy Cook who worked with Owen in conjunction with the American Cancer Society, Sarah Wright from Mobile Symphony, Councilman Mike McMillan, Owen Bailey from the Mobile Infirmary and Ken Wilson, associate pastor from the Eastern Shore Baptist Church.

The committee was comprised of representatives from several areas, including one from higher education, one from the State Department of Education, two former National Distinguished Principals, and two other principals from the state. Owen will also serve on the committee for two years after 2008 ends.