SPIRIT LAKE - The Lakeland School District has a top principal in the state.

Times two.

Kurt Hoffman, principal of Timberlake High, and Georgeanne Griffith, principal of Timberlake Junior High, were recently named the state's top principals by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Griffith has worked at the Lakeland School District for 24 years, including five as assistant principal at Lakeland Junior High, 12 as principal at Lakeland Junior High and seven as principal at Timberlake Junior High.

"I attribute my selection for this honor to several factors including outstanding mentoring by the likes of (former and current Lakeland administrators) Bob Jones, Chuck Kinsey, Ron Schmidt and Mary Ann Ranells as well as my good fortune to work with a tremendous staff at Timberlake Junior High," Griffith said.

Hoffman has been principal of Timberlake High for 12 years.

"I have had the great fortune to work in a great school district, with great staff members, students, parents and community members," Hoffman said.

Hoffman and Griffith were nominated by Lakeland Superintendent Mary Ann Ranells.

"Pretty good stuff for Lakeland," Ranells said of the awards. "These are two amazing individuals."

Hoffman and Griffith networked with other state principals of the year, participated in Department of Education workshops and met with state lawmakers to discuss national education issues during the recent NASSP/MetLife Principal Institute in Washington, D.C.

The annual award program began in 1993 as a way to recognize outstanding middle level and high school principals.

Chris McDougall of Timberlake High was honored last year as the Vice Principal of the Year, while Lisa Sexton of Betty Kiefer Elementary was the Rookie Elementary Principal of the Year.