Bainbridge Island Kiwanis Club has chosen retiring Woodward Middle School principal Mary Alice O’Neill as its first “Educator of the Year.”

The new award honors an educator who has made “extraordinary efforts towards improving the education of Bainbridge Island children.”

O’Neill was nominated by several Woodward teachers and two Parent Teacher Organizations.

“The overwhelming number of educational innovations she has brought about on behalf of our children certainly makes her an outstanding recipient of this award,” Bainbridge Kiwanis President Dean Newcomb said.

Newcomb noted O’Neill’s success in instituting student led conferences, creating a bullying prevention program, and Washington Assessment of Student Learning scores.

As part of the award, O’Neill and Woodward Middle School received checks for $500.

O’Neill is retiring at the end of this school year, after leading Woodward for eight years. Associate Principal Mike Florian has been tabbed as her successor.