(Shoshoni, WY) – Shoshoni Elementary School Principal Andrea Gilbertson was on the receiving end of district-wide subterfuge Thursday afternoon, April 3, as the entirety of FCSD #24 packed into the Shoshoni High School gym to celebrate her being named as the Wyoming Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals (WAEMSP) 2025 National Distinguished Principal.
The Shoshoni Wrangler pumped students and staff up before Gilbertson made it to the High School, but the entire gym fell quiet when they heard she was about to enter.
You can watch the moment Gilbertson was surprised by the entire district below.
“It is our honor to be here with the Wrangler family,” Southside Elementary School Principal Scott Schiller and last years Distinguished Principal award winner shared with the crowd after Gilbertson received the surprise of a lifetime. “It is (also) a great honor for me to be here to present the new National Distinguished Principal, Mrs. Gilbertson.”
Schiller then had Gilbertson add her name to the contract that has been signed by every National Distinguished Principal in the state of Wyoming “since its inception,” as well as the National Distinguished Principal banner.
“Mrs. Gilbertson gets to go on and do something really special that I had a chance to do last year,” Schiller then informed the crowd. “She will get a chance to go to Washington D.C. and speak on your behalf, and she’s going to get a chance to tell everybody all about Wrangler Nation, Shoshoni Elementary School, and her amazing staff.”
WAEMSP Executive Director Kris Cundall was the next to speak, and after explaining the nomination process, shared why they chose Gilbertson.
“Our Wyoming Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals Association met with the committee and thoroughly vetted all of the candidate applications that we received,” Cundall explained.
“Mrs. Gilbertson is really a role model for every elementary principal and probably the secondary principal in the state. Her application showed thoroughly how much work has gone into Shoshoni Elementary School. And really this award is a recognition of all of the great work all of you are doing to make your school one of the best in the state of Wyoming. And congratulations to all of you. Mrs. Gilbertson.”
FCSD #24 Superintendent Bruce Thoren addressed the crowd next and shared that Gilbertson started her time as principal six years ago, with “three main priorities.”
“She was going to create a culture of growth, she was going to create a culture of excellence, and she was going to create a culture of community,” Thoren explained.
“The culture of community has been exemplified in all those things that we do. Her weekly focus with the elementary Gratitude Gram. For those of you that have seen the freedom to teach video, you can see and feel through that video the community and the culture that has been built. The growth in excellence and the growth and the culture of students is evident through test scores ELA WYTOPP scores, we’ve seen over 22% growth there. We see huge gains in kids. So she’s following through with her promises (from) when she interviewed and has been bringing very good things to the district.”
“Mrs. Gilbertson is forever the advocate,” Thoren continued. “She is always positive and welcoming and is a leader that people will follow. Lastly, I’d like to say that Mrs. Gilbert’s leadership extends beyond the school. She’s involved with state committees, she’s involved with regional areas and communities. She is helping build education in this entire state with that. Thank you.”
Gilbertson then had the chance to speak to the attendees, which included a Zoom call video set up that enabled her parents and siblings to watch on as well.
“Wow. To say that, I am honored, to say that I am shocked to be standing here right now accepting this recognition, is truly an understatement,” Gilbertson began as she fought off joyful tears.
“This honor for me is shared with every single person in this room. It’s not an honor that is mine alone by any sense of the imagination. It’s come about from every single person in this room, working together for the greater good, for our school and our community.”
Gilbertson then asked her fellow Shoshoni Schools staff to stand up to be recognized with a round of applause.
“I have the privilege of getting to surround myself with this incredible professional community every single day, and what I will tell you is that each one of these people in this room make me better. I am so grateful for how they show up in the work every single day. They show up with passion, they show up with care, they put kids first every day.”
Gilbertson then had the crowd cheer for all the students and their families.
“Your regular spirit that you come with every single day; it’s an absolute privilege for me to get to enjoy that and be a part of that.”
Gilbertson wrapped up by thanking her admin team, her family, and her “mentor,” Superintendent Thoren.
“I would love to tell you that truly, being elementary principal here at Shoshoni has really been an honor and a privilege of my lifetime and my career and I’m so, so grateful to get to this work here with all of you.”