As associate principal at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, Lisa Gruman is a talented, creative professional who is a role model for staff and students. Rarely closeted in her office, Gruman is always visible in the building and is described as an administrator who works with students on an individual level.
Leading the charge to implement the International Baccalaureate Program at Shawnee Mission Northwest, Gruman has played a significant role in increasing the focus on student readiness for post-secondary education. Under her watch, there have been significant gains for minority students and progress toward closing the achievement gaps in reading and math.
Gruman’s leadership in assessment and discipline has earned her respect among faculty and students, a true testament to her award-worthy skills as an administrator. A member of many district and school committees, Gruman’s work in guiding several Professional Learning Communities is further evidence of her diplomacy and vision. As a recognized curriculum leader, her noteworthy “analysis, planning and expectations” have helped forge a reputation of educational excellence at Shawnee Mission Northwest.