AWSP Blog

Welcome to another episode of AWSP News, where we discuss the new legislative session and the Tobacco 21 initiative, Vicki Puckett as the NASSP Quarterly Advocate, two amazing students who won $10,000 US SSSPenate Youth Scholarships, Evergreen Public School's "starting small" video featuring AWSL's James Layman, Central Valley High School's powerful Mental Health Awareness Day, our Future School Leaders Day and Future Educators Month, Rich Knuth Distinguished Mentor Award winner Heather Renner, the latest issue of Washington Principal and success of the Lopez Island Farm Education program video, the nomination window for the Robert J. Handy Most Effective Administrator Award, and Summer Conference registration.

Considering a school yard garden? Here are some tips.

Here's an exciting opportunity to learn about plans for a new Environmental Education and Research facility in King county.

The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) announces that high school students Ms. Zaira Bardos and Ms. Lexi J. Rodriguez-Padilla will join Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell in representing Washington in the nation’s capital during the 57th annual USSYP Washington Week, to be held March 2 — 9, 2019. Zaira Bardos of Orting and Lexi Rodriguez-Padilla of Sedro Woolley were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the 104 national student delegation who will also each receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.

Consider a grant to fund something new outdoors! Working with your staff, you may brainstorm an innovative approach using the outdoors to enhance your curriculum. Here is an opportunity to help fund that next great idea...

I had a surprising encounter recently while facilitating leadership training for approximately fifty early career principals and assistant principals. During a break, one of the attendees - let’s call him “Jeff” - approached me to engage in a conversation. To be honest, Jeff did all the talking. I listened, a bit uncertain how to respond in the moment.

Welcome to our first episode of AWSP News for 2019, where we discuss the upcoming legislative session, our next episode of AWSP TV with resources for tobacco use and vaping, the important role our PAC plays in supporting principals, the Building Hope Together workshop with WEA and Kids at Hope, our Principal Leadership Academy happening soon in ESD 123, our partnership with PEMCO and VEBA, the Future School Leaders Day workshop we’re putting on, a possible 24-credit graduation requirement summit, and an opening for students on AWSL’s Executive Committee and the State Board of Education.

At AWSP, we believe wholeheartedly in the importance of teachers, but also feel just as strongly in calling attention to one of the most under-recognized and overworked group of educators in the system, school principals. Effective principals are foundational and essential components of a successful educational system. Simply stated, principals matter.

While we welcome the thousands of students and staff who visit our facilities, it is the dream of all of us involved in Outdoor Environmental and Science Education to have a component in each school year. Here is an exemplary approach:

Dudley Edmondson, an African American wildlife photographer, believes it is critical for people of color to get involved in nature conservation. He sought out 20 other African Americans with deep connections to nature and asked them about their personal experiences, how they came to value nature and why African Americans seem under-represented in our parks and conservation efforts.