February is AWSP Member Engagement Month! Each week this month, we're highlighting opportunities for members like you to get more involved with your professional association. This week we want to call special attention to our Principal and Assistant Principal
of the Year Award program.
In the middle of some of the most challenging times in the principalship, we at AWSP will take any opportunity to celebrate our rockstar leaders. Our Washington State Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year program is one way we do this.
In early
January, we announced our 2023 winners:
Dr. Dana Stiner (Pine Tree Elementary, Kent School District), Washington State Elementary Principal of the Year
Deborah Henderson (Frank Wagner Elementary, Monroe School District), Washington State Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year
Shannon Leatherwood (Spanaway Middle School, Bethel School District), Washington State Secondary Principal of the Year
- Jessica Buchan (Renton High School, Renton School District), Washington State Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year
You can read about them and their ability to create safe and inclusive climates and cultures for their students, staff, and community on our POY and APOY pages. Currently, they are working on their applications for the national recognition programs.
We are so proud to have them represent Washington at national events/conferences later this year.
Winning the state award results in more than just recognizing and celebrating excellent leadership. Our 2020 Secondary Principal of the year, David Cooke, said he appreciates the time his superintendent, Dr. Mary Templeton, and the Washougal School District
team took to nominate him and allow him “this incredible opportunity.” Read about his experience at the NASSP Recognition Conference and his reasons why you should nominate a great leader today in David Cooke’s May 2020 Blog Post.
Nick Davies, Ph.D., Associate Principal at Eisenhower/Lake Shore Elementary in Vancouver, wrote an article for our Washington Principal magazine that reflects on the last
20 years of Principal and AP of the Year winners. Nick writes, “I have always been interested in looking at people who reach the pinnacle of their professions. With education, we do not necessarily have a pinnacle, but receiving a teacher or
principal of the year award is pretty close."
Here are some common traits Nick identifies from past winners:
- leads by example
- walks the walk
- intense work ethic
- Innovative
- Inspiring
- follows through
- passionate
- highly organized
- great motivator
- respected
- high integrity
- someone who everyone can count on
Do you know a principal or assistant principal with some of these award-winning characteristics making an impact in their school and community who deserves to be recognized? Of course, you do! We know you’re all busy, so we have simplified the nomination
process. There’s only one main question to answer and ANYONE can nominate - supervisor, assistant, parent, teacher, student, community member… Nominate now, and
help us find our next group of leaders to celebrate.