AWSP Blog

The State Board of Education wants to hear from you about graduation and how students show they are prepared with the skills needed to thrive in life after high school. Learn more about this work and get an opportunity to provide feedback during a listening session.

As part of our celebrity Summer Conference news interview series, Dr. Scott Seaman and Communications & Technology Director David Morrill joined Kraken broadcaster Everett Fitzhugh to talk about his path to the NHL as the first black play-by-play hockey announcer. He has a unique story about culture and belonging and shares how the Kraken is breaking down barriers and creating a diverse, inclusive staff in a sport where that's the exception and not the norm. Everett has great stories, insight, lessons, and plenty of humor. You'll want to watch all the way to the end for this one.

Not too long ago, our Executive Director Dr. Scott Seaman wrote his "I Am More Than a Test Score" blog. Along those same lines, AWSL Director James Layman has a couple of quotes in this piece from Knowable Magazine.

There’s nothing like more than a year of pandemic learning to make us examine past practices and consider better and healthier ways! One change your school might consider is making a purposeful effort to take learning outside. In the report “Back to School: Back Outside” (Kevin J. Coyle, National Wildlife Federation, 2010), research shows how a “green hour” built into classroom routines has a positive impact on students’ focus, attitude toward work, behavior, connections with others, and even standardized test scores.

Some dream about winning an Emmy, Grammy or Golden Globe Award. Others fantasize about walking to the stage to accept an Academy Award. Some dream of ticker tape, fireworks, and packed stadiums while being crowned a Super Bowl, Stanley Cup, WNBA or World Series Champ. Others dream about stepping up on the Olympic podium as a new world record holder gold medalist. While others place their life’s work into winning a Nobel Peace Prize. And, finally, of course, above all recognition, the world waits with bated breath for the annual AWSP President’s Award.

Come join us free, end-of-year celebration and annual luncheon. Well, not totally free...you do have to supply your own lunch. Connect with us and principals and assistant principals across the state, find out who we interviewed for our "who's your favorite principal" celebrity surprise, and see if you win any prizes. We can’t wait to see you there!

Weekly special education and Section 504 resources from Abby Bowers, Capital Region ESD 113's Director of Special Programs.

In this final episode of AWSP News for this year, we discuss sharing any updates to guide how we might be opening our schools in the fall, this year’s virtual Summer Conference and the annual AWSP Summer Conference lunch program, the incredible programs and networks that your AWSP ProLearning Team has put together, making outdoor education accessible to all kids and an Outdoor School survey, programs and opportunities for developing your student leaders, how an AWSL “School” Membership supports your school, and our annual reminder to reach out to us as you head into your final evaluation with your supervisor.

AWSP will close this Friday June 18th, in recognition of Juneteenth (June 19th). Starting in 2022, Washington state will recognize June 19th as an official state holiday. Although this recognition as a state holiday is over 150 years overdue, AWSP is going to start this year.

When you’re ready to jump into some professional reading, check out this list of books that Jack Arend and I created based on some of the books that we are reading or that we hear others mention. We also provide some tips for engaging your staff in a book study, if that is something that you are considering.