Columbus principal to serve as president of national educators association

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — The National Association of Elementary School Principals has a new president who may be familiar to Columbus residents.

Next school year, Avondale Elementary principal April Knight will take on that new position. In this new role she hopes to show all of Columbus City Schools and the state of Ohio she is ready to lead.

“I think being in this position and coming from Columbus City Schools is an indication that we as a district are doing good things,” Knight said.

Knight has been working for CCS for over 20 years. She said she wants everyone to still feel like she is there though she will have a new position.

“I hope they understand that I’m going to do my best to represent CCS and to represent our administrators,” Knight said. “I want them to feel free to reach out to me if there are specific concerns that they want to be passed along to the the highest level of the U.S. Department of Ed.”

Knight will be traveling all around the U.S. trying to build support for educators and advising other teachers and principals. Knight wants this moment to be an inspiration for everyone in Columbus.

“I want them to see that, you know, just this small principal from a district in Columbus can actually achieve something like that,” she said.

Knight will finish this school year as principal of Avondale Elementary, but she is excited for this new chapter.

“You know, this is something I would have never in my wildest dreams figured I would be doing but it is absolutely the pinnacle of my professional career,” Knight said.

Knight will assume the presidential role in the 2025-2026 school year.

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