Ms. Wychock was selected for this honor from more than 45 nominations. She has initiated a variety of programs in her school, and in September 2000, she and her Neshaminy Middle School family accepted a National Blue Ribbon School Award from Richard Riley, then U.S. Secretary of Education. In April 2001, the Neshaminy Middle School family once again faced a challenge, this time it was that the middle school was in jeopardy of closing.

   Ms. Wychock rallied the students, staff, parents and community in an effort to keep the school from being closed. She was instrumental in leading the fight for this cause – blue ribbons were tied to all of the trees on the campus, parents wrote editorials and called upon the media to publicize their plight and Ms. Wychock, as the administrator, was called upon to make a presentation to the board. Because of these efforts and much more, the Neshaminy School Board voted to close an elementary school in the district not the middle school.

   During the past year, she has been able to share her technological expertise with her colleagues on three unique projects. She volunteered to help develop a PowerPoint presentation on a local environmental awareness program, "Trash to Ash," for a symposium. She also helped to produce a video for the eighth grade science teacher, who is a finalist for Teacher of the Year in Pennsylvania. Lastly, she worked closely with Neshaminy’s Blue Ribbon Committee to create a 75-minute presentation titled, "Blue Ribbon School Application As An Opportunity for Staff Development." This hands-on approach with her staff has helped them gain the confidence they need to incorporate technology in their classroom and in the public arena.

   Ms. Wychock formerly taught art at Pearl Buck Elementary School, Carl Sandburg Middle School and at Maple Point Middle School, where she also served as lead teacher for art.

   In addition to being a member of PASSP, she is also active in various professional organizations including the National Association of Secondary School Principals Association, the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development and the Pennsylvania Art Education Association (PAEA). She serves as a regional representative for the Bucks and Montgomery County chapter of PAEA and was the secretary/vice president of the local chapter of the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

   Ms. Wychock is also active in the community. She is the president of the Penn Jersey Basket Weavers Guild, is a juried member of the Bucks and Montgomery County Guild of Craftsmen and the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen and serves as the chairperson of the Neshaminy School District Arts Festival.

   In 1993, she was named "Outstanding Regional Representative" of the Pennsylvania Art Education Association, and in 1992, she was named the Art Educator of the Year in Pennsylvania. She has authored numerous articles for publication and presentations, including "Blue Ribbon School Application Process As An Opportunity for Staff Development," for the National School Board Conference in 2001.

   Ms. Wychock received a bachelor of science from Kutztown University, as well as a master’s degree in art education from Penn State University and a master’s degree in educational administration from Gwynedd Mercy College.