AWSP Blog

October is a month dedicated to raising awareness, advocating for inclusion, and celebrating the unique contributions of individuals with disabilities. It’s an opportunity to shine a light on various conditions, both visible and invisible, while fostering a culture of acceptance and support. At the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP), we are proud to recognize and honor the diverse experiences within our communities.

AWSP is a proud supporter of the new film, THE RIDE AHEAD, from father-son co-directors Samuel Habib & Dan Habib (creator of Including Samuel, Who Cares About Kelsey?, and Intelligent Lives). THE RIDE AHEAD is the feature-length version of their Emmy Award-winning New York Times Op-Doc, My Disability Roadmap. Because AWSP was an early supporter of the film, we can make free copies of the Education Kit available

With Black History Month here, you may ask, "What does this mean for me?" In our daily lives, many of us may not know how to best honor, acknowledge, or celebrate cultures, whether our own or somebody else's.

We are excited to have made our final edits to a new publication called The AWSP Equity Guide: The Heart Work of School Leadership. The AWSP Equity Guide is really a guide of self-discovery, providing a “zero entry” pool to the deep end, and resources and learning opportunities for leaders who are intent in growing their skillset and knowledge about equity and how it intersects with our leadership practices. The AWSP pro-learning team has used the guide as a primary resource in our AWSP New Principal Mentor Training program and Implementation Sessions. The goal is to have the guide available to schools and districts by the AWSP/WASA Summer Conference, taking place June 25-27 in Spokane.

Black women are the third most represented demographic for the principalship in Washington state. Knowing that, it is vital to create a brave space for black women to connect, support one another, and grow together for us to sustain ourselves in education. In response to a request from one of our leaders, AWSP created “Dear Sista,” an affinity group space for African American women leaders. The title Dear Sista is a tribute to Veronica Very’s book of poems that speaks to truth, healing, and supporting the sisterhood.