Dr. Damon Lewis, ’04, has been named Middle School Principal of the Year by the Connecticut Association of Schools. Lewis is principal at Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy in Norwalk, Conn.
“This award is a testament to your passionate leadership, dedication to student success, ability to inspire and support your staff, and heroic personal investment in your entire school community,” Karen Packtor, deputy executive director of CAS, wrote in an announcement letter.
Lewis has served as principal of Ponus Ridge since July 2015, following four years as the school’s assistant principal. His leadership has helped foster a collaborative academic environment and drive continuous improvement.
Under his tenure, Ponus Ridge has significantly reduced its chronic absenteeism rate from 23% to 8.3%, a transformation that has drawn national media attention. Additionally, the school has seen increased representation of Hispanic and Black students in the Gifted & Talented program and a rise in female students enrolling in Accelerated Math courses.
“My time at SCSU in the School Counseling Program provided me with the leadership skills needed to be successful in the ever-changing world of public school administration,” Lewis said. “Southern Connecticut, and the Master’s Program specifically, gave me the opportunity to engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds, and varied perspectives. I would like to personally thank SCSU in helping me become the 2025 CAS Middle School Principal of The Year.”
Lewis has passed along the Owl tradition to the next generation in his family. “Additionally, it means the world to me, that my son, Elijah, a freshman at SCSU, will receive the same quality education to prepare him for the real world,” he said.
Beyond Ponus Ridge, Lewis has played a key role in shaping district policies, contributing to redesigning the Gifted & Talented program, school counseling services, and middle school and STEAM curricula. He has also served on several key committees, including the Safety Task Force, the Superintendent Principal Advisory Group, and the District Strategic Plan Task Force. Currently, he facilitates the Black Male Administrators Group.
Lewis is the second Southern graduate that the Norwalk Public Schools district has announced this academic year as a CAS awardee. In January, the association honored fellow Owl LaShante’ James, ’04, MS ’14, assistant principal of Brien McMahon High School, as its 2025 High School Assistant Principal of the Year.
Along with sharing their Southern connection, the two are also former colleagues. James said, “When I was seeking an administrative position, Dr. Lewis selected me as his first Assistant Principal out of 250 applicants. I don’t count it as coincidence that we have both received this honor in the same year.”
Lewis will now be considered for the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ National Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year award.
