This article profiles Principal of the Year Mel Riddile, a former University of North Carolina football linebacker and principal of J. E. B. Stuart High school in Fairfax County, Virginia. Riddile was recently named the national high school principal of the year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and MetLife. Collaboration, creative problem solving, and an emphasis on results are the hallmarks of his approach to the principalship. He reveals that his personal touch and commitment to teamwork have helped turn Stuart into one of the highest-performing low-income schools in the country. He is pleased with his principal of the year award, particularly because it has come long after other forms of recognition for the school's achievements, including a visit by President George W. Bush.