Dr. Paul Griep, principal of Har-Ber High School, was recently named Administrator of the Year by the Arkansas Communication & Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA). Griep was officially presented the award at ACTAA’s annual Fall Conference on Petit Jean Mountain Sep. 19-21.

“Dr. Griep unwavering support, honesty, and integrity have been instrumental in fostering a thriving educational environment where both staff and students can excel,” shared Lauren Loehndorf, Har-Ber communication teacher, at the presentation ceremony. “His commitment to open dialogue, collaboration and listening models effective communication to our students; and his support for provided quality learning opportunities both in and out of the classroom evidences him as a champion for speech & debate.”

Under Dr. Griep’s leadership and support of co-curricular learning, programs like Har-Ber Speech & Debate have grown to be one of the more of the more nationally competitive speech & debate programs in the state.

The Arkansas Communication and Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA) is a non-profit professional organization serving educators. Its purpose is to promote communication, debate, forensics and theatre as an essential discipline, life skill, and art form. Additionally, ACTAA is the official sanctioning organization authorized by the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) and National Federation of State High Schools Association (NFHS) to govern interscholastic speech and debate competition in Arkansas.