Birch Grove Elementary principal Dr. Ronald Salazar wins Distinguished Alumni Award

Birch Grove School for the Arts principal Dr. Ronald Salazar recently received recognition for his outstanding work with a Distinguished Alumni award from the University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development, where Salazar received his doctoral degree in 2003.

Salazar was nominated by an unknown person for the award, and he attended a ceremony in recognition of the Distinguished Alumni award winners Nov. 9 at the University of Minnesota’s McNamara Alumni Center. The award highlighted Salazar’s impact on underrepresented communities through educational leadership that promotes student learning. 

Salazar has received other recognitions for his work as Birch Grove’s principal in recent years, including the Region IV Principal of the Year Award through Magnet Schools of America last school year, for which he was also a finalist for the national award. Additionally, he was a finalist for the Minnesota Elementary Principal of the Year award through the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association.

“Some people get awards for the work that we do, but as a leader we facilitate and support people,” Salazar said. “The work done in a school is the work that everybody does, both licensed and non-licensed staff. I received the award, but the work is being done by everybody.”

Salazar expressed his appreciation for the school’s staff, students, families and for the district, which he said supports and encourages his commitment to equity.