This story has been updated to reflect that Cox was also named State High School Principal of the Year.
North Montgomery High School Principal Michael Cox has been named high school principal of the year by the Indiana Association of School Principals.
Cox was recognized at an organization conference Sunday at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis.
“This award is given to an individual, but it belongs to the whole school,” Cox said. “It happens because I’ve been lucky enough to hire outstanding and caring people that do great things for our students and families.
Cox was also named principal of the year for District 4, which includes Montgomery County.
The organization has touted Cox's overseeing of North Montgomery’s switch from valedictorian and salutatorian recognition to the cum laude recognition system, which he counts as among his proudest achievements.
Cox was also touted for the implementation of applied educational neuroscience, which he said is “the most impactful system of change I have been a part of.”
“Michael emanates a positive energy and has a contagious knack for finding the silver lining in any situation,” said Brooke VanScoyoc, North Montgomery’s director of student services.
Cox became the school’s principal in 2014 after seven years as assistant principal. He previously taught at then-Northridge Middle School. Cox came to the district from Hamilton Heights Middle School, where he was a teacher, athletic director and the dean of students.
Cox earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a K-12 computer education certificate from Indiana University. He has a master’s in education from Ball State University and a certificate of applied educational neuroscience from Butler University.
