The Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals has named Don Ashburn the 2008 Outstanding Middle School Principal of Virginia.

Ashburn, principal of Carver Middle School in Chesterfield County Public Schools, will receive the award in June during the Virginia Middle and High School Principals Conference and Exposition. He is now eligible to compete for the National Middle School Principal of the Year.

Ashburn is the first principal from Chesterfield County Public Schools to receive the middle school principal award, says the association's Executive Director Randy Barrack.

Ashburn has worked in Chesterfield County Public Schools since 2000, as assistant principal at Robious Middle School until 2005 when he was named principal of Carver Middle School. Ashburn earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Virginia. He is completing his doctorate there, too.

His accomplishments at Carver Middle include: