School District Five principal named MSA 2026 Principal of the Year Region Finalist

For Immediate Release – December 19, 2025 

School District Five principal named MSA 2026 Principal of the Year Region Finalist

IRMO – Magnet Schools of America (MSA), the national association representing magnet schools and programs, has named Karey Fisher, principal of Nursery Road Elementary School-Arts Magnet, as a 2026 Principal of the Year Regional Finalist.

The Magnet Schools of America Principal of the Year Award recognizes exceptional school leaders who demonstrate outstanding commitment to magnet education, student achievement, innovation, equity, and community engagement. As a regional finalist, Fisher is among a select group of principals nationwide honored for leadership that advances the mission and impact of magnet schools.

“Being named Magnet Schools of America Region IV Principal of the Year is a humbling honor that belongs to our students,” Fisher said. “When children are given meaningful access to the arts, they discover their voices and their potential. This recognition affirms the vital role of strong arts programming in shaping confident, engaged learners. I am deeply grateful to the District Office and especially Sara Wheeler, Director of Magnet Programs, for their support, to our exceptional arts teachers and staff for their passion, and most of all to our students whose creativity, voices, and artistry are the heart of our school and the reason this work matters.”

Under Fisher’s leadership, Nursery Road Elementary School-Arts Magnet is the only elementary school in Lexington-Richland School District Five to offer Media, Visual, and Performing Arts with an extended arts rotation as well as Arts Integration in the general education classroom.

“We are grateful for a principal whose visionary leadership brings the heart of visual and performing arts into every corner of her school,” School District Five Magnet Director Sara Wheeler said. “Through a deep commitment to arts integration, Mrs. Fisher inspires creativity, fosters academic growth, and creates meaningful, unique experiences for every student where every child can explore, express, and shine.”

Regional finalists will advance for consideration for the national Principal of the Year Award, which will be announced at the Magnet Schools of America National Conference, April 14-17, 2026, in San Diego.

We are incredibly proud to see Mrs. Fisher recognized as the MSA Regional Principal of the Year,” said Tina McCaskill, School District Five Chief of Academics. “This honor reflects her unwavering commitment to academic excellence, student-centered leadership, and building a school community where every child is supported and challenged to succeed. She ensures arts integration is not an add‑on but a driving force that enriches the development of the whole child. This recognition is well deserved.”

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