James Ton, principal of Chesterton Middle School, has received the Middle School Principal of the Year Award for District I from the Indiana Association of School Principals and the Horace Mann Companies.

Ton was honored at the IASP District I Spring Banquet this past Friday at the Shorewood Clubhouse in Shorewood Forest in Valparaiso.

As principal, Ton is the only Indiana school practitioner to serve as chair of the Board of Directors of the North Central Association and be a recipient of the 2008 John W. Vaughn Award for Excellence in Education.

He holds two master's degrees from Purdue University as well as a bachelor's degree with honors from the University of Indianapolis. He has spent 39 years in education as a teacher, athletic director, guidance counselor and administrator. He is a charter member of IASP and an IPLA and IPLA II graduate.

In his spare time, he drives the Chesterton Middle School team bus for cross country and track as well as serving as president of the Chesterton Town Board.

He coordinated the consolidation of two existing Duneland Middle Schools (Liberty and Westchester) and constructed the team schedule for the new Chesterton Middle School. He also coordinated the complete renovation of the former Chesterton High School facility (2000-2002) in preparation for the new Chesterton Middle School and continues to be a strong advocate for professional learning communities and continuous school improvement.

Posted 5/1/2008