In this episode of AWSP News, we discuss Principal Relationships, Chad Prewitt, one of the winners of this year’s Handy Award, another great year of professional learning events designed just for you, Principals of Literacy, Summer Conference 2020, our online resources and videos, our revised Networked Improvement Community Grants, a bill removing the personal and philosophical option to exempt children from the MMR vaccine, the Mental Health Initiative and The Main Idea.

In 2019, the Washington State Legislature passed a bill that removes the personal and philosophical option to exempt children from the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine required for school and child care entry. It also requires employees and volunteers at child care centers to provide immunization records indicating they have received the MMR vaccine, proof of immunity or a medical exemption. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee on May 10, 2019, and goes into effect on July 28, 2019.

The new school year begins, and planning to ensure that each school is the safest possible continues! Here are OSPI's September Super Seven School Safety Starter Suggestions to help kick of the new year.

Through the magic of "Twitterverse", I stumbled across this blog post by Chris Lehman from a number of years ago. It is a letter to all young teachers thinking about leaving the profession. As I read the letter, I couldn't help but think what it would read like if I removed the word "teacher" and instead used "school leader". Applicable? Yes. Moving? Yes. Great read? Heck yes!

Summer camp is not extra

Do you view kids at risk or at hope? Is every adult in your building a treasure hunter? Do you have any idea what we're talking about? In this episode of AWSP TV, Scott Seaman sits down with Rick Miller, founder and CEO of Kids at Hope and Professor of Practice and Clinical Director at Arizona State University. Watch our show to learn more about Kids at Hope as a program and about the science of hope.

This blog’s title comes from a recent National Geographic article describing the magazine’s investigation into its historical arc-of-reporting on people of color in the U.S. and abroad. The patience and time dedicated by the editor-in-chief to curate and dissect how the magazine treated issues of race is a helpful model for school systems. In order to serve our students and facilitate honest and open dialogue, we too must examine and reconcile with our own long-standing cultural narratives and how certain students are adversely impacted by the educational systems we lead.

This month, AWSP released an initial rollout of the AWSP Leadership Framework 3.0. AWSP is looking for districts from all nine ESDs who are willing to “test-drive” and review this draft by Feb. 1, 2020, to provide feedback that will inform the final version. The final version will be implemented statewide during the 2020-21 school year. If you are interested in becoming a Framework Feedback district, contact us by Nov. 1. Framework Feedback districts will receive a complimentary print copy of the Framework 3.0 draft for each administrator.

For decades, thousands of children and adults around the state have been going to Cispus Learning Center in Randle, WA. But did you know about our facility in eastern Washington? Located outside of Spokane, Chewelah Peak Learning Center offers outdoor learning, leadership training and an affordable retreat center for youth groups or hobbyists; a perfect place to reflect, re-focus and re-energize.

In our annual Summer Conference Luncheon special edition of AWSP News, we highlight three of our Principals of the Year and are back with everyone's favorite segment, our celebrity interview where we ask, "who's your favorite principal?" Thanks to the Seattle Mariners organization and Manager Scott Servais for this All-Star edition.

Passed this session, HB 1599 transforms the assessment expectations for graduation and how students can approach fulfilling requirements for earning a diploma. We know principals and districts are clamoring for more information, so we partnered with OPSI and the SBE to bring you two episodes of AWSP TV on this topic. First up is our episode with OSPI's Deputy Superintendent Dr. Michaela Miller (our returning champion).

In this episode of AWSP News, we discuss Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Airlines, and his visit with our CEO Network,our Association of Washington Student Leaders summer programs, our student leadership curriculum, our incredible professional learning cohort-based series, our principal mentoring program for principals in their first three years, a bill removing the personal and philosophical option to exempt children from the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, resources on changes to the requirements for school and child care immunizations, getting your accreditation through your ESD, Summer Conference, this year’s NAESP National Conference, senior graduation, High School and Beyond Plan resources for teachers and counselors, and the end-of-the-year activities you lead in your school.

In this episode of AWSP News, we discuss an email we received about the selfless dedication of principal Dorothy Day of Oak Harbor Elementary; registration for two of AWSP’s Launching Principal Leadership and Building Effective Leadership; Summer Conference and our surprise guest for our Special Edition of AWSP News; our Assistant Principal Leadership Network; AWSL's La Cima, Deaf Teen Leadership camp, and native American camps; ASB Finance workshops; the Blue Ribbon Schools Program; and Pride Month and additional resources to support LGBTQ students in your school.

In this episode of AWSP News, we discuss a visit from Kaiser Permanente Susan Mullaney, principal Jason Smith from John R. Rogers High School in Puyallup and his national recognition, our state principals of the year, the Washington College Grant, registration for AWSP’s Launching Principal Leadership Network AND Building Effective Leadership Network, a Ph.D. candidate wanting to learn more about principals as transformational and instructional leaders, a survey on Washington’s STEM educator pipeline, the winter/spring issue of our Washington Principal magazine, and our business partners VEBA and PEMCO.

AWSP is helping recruit participants for a doctoral research study titled, “An Exploration of Methods for Promoting Student Performance Used by Transformational Leaders and Instructional Leaders.” The research will explore the methods of principals, who self-identify as transformational leaders and/or instructional leaders, used to promote high student achievement.

In this episode of AWSP News, we discuss the end of session, our Spring Board meetings, AWSL and the student representatives to the State Board of Education, the 2019 Native American Leadership Camp, a cool way to motivate and support your kids during testing, the Professional Educators Standards Board, this year's Summer Conference, changing your status with us if you change jobs, our business partner Clear Risk, and introduce Jack Arend (our newest Associate Director).

While not completely accurate, this headline reflects the feeling of many principals Washington grappling with changes to state laws for suspensions and expulsion. To be clear, schools can still use exclusion as a tool, but the new discipline rules put a significant squeeze on when and how it is applied.

The great mystery is the upcoming release of the agreed upon 2019–21 budget. It is to be released Saturday, the 27th. While budget negotiations were occurring behind closed doors, both chambers passed a number of bills. A few pertain to this report.

In our sixth episode of AWSP TV, OSPI's Sue Anderson (Director of Educator Effectiveness) talks to our Ron Sisson about putting the G (growth) in TPEP, as well as a few more topics around evaluation, coaching, mentoring, and induction.

After this last deadline, attention now moves to both chamber floors. Action will primarily consist of both chambers debating and voting on bills that have passed either chamber. I’ve earlier explained the concurrence, dispute, and/or conference committee avenues of resolution. Simultaneously, meetings often held in backrooms away from public and member scrutiny, are being held as issues like the budget and revenue enhancements are bargained.