AWSP Blog

Melyssa Stone, Assistant Principal at Shorewood High School in Shoreline, WA, has been named the 2026 Washington State Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year. Stone is one of those heroes who doesn’t want recognition, which makes her all the more deserving of it. By listening closely to students and rolling up her sleeves to take practical action, Stone has transformed Shorewood High School into a place of belonging, support, and self-advocacy.

Teresa “Traci” Schultz, assistant principal at Southworth Elementary School in Yelm Community Schools, has been named the 2026 Washington State Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year. Schultz leads with empathy and clarity—anchoring every decision in her belief that every interaction can change a life. Known for her steady leadership and ability to restore hope in times of challenge, Schultz has helped rebuild trust and community at Southworth following district-wide levy losses and staff turnover.

Juanita High School’s Terry Jess has been named the Washington State Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year in recognition of his outstanding leadership, dedication to equity, and transformative impact on the school community.

Cascade Elementary’s Dr. James West has been recognized as the Washington State 2025 Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year, an honor that reflects his exceptional leadership, commitment to student success, and dedication to fostering a positive school culture.

Jessica Buchan, assistant principal at Renton High School in the Renton School District, was named this year’s Washington State Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year. Buchan will also be recognized at the national level by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), where she will compete with winners from other states for the NASSP’s National Assistant Principal of the Year award, announced in early April.