Assistant Principal of the Year Award

2024 Washington State Elementary
Assistant Principal of the Year

Dr. Nick Davies
Eisenhower and Ogden Elementary Schools
Vancouver PS

Dr. Nick Davies, assistant principal at both Ogden and Eisenhower Elementary Schools in the Vancouver School District, was named the 2024 Washington State Assistant Principal of the Year. In addition, he will represent Washington as our state’s winner of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Outstanding Assistant Principal award. NAESP recognizes one winner from each state every year.

Dr. Davies has been an assistant principal for four years and shows up every day with the purpose of having “a positive impact on people’s lives so that they can become the best they are capable of becoming”, and he shares his educational leadership knowledge with others as a writer of widely published articles. A parent who nominated  Dr. Davies described him as “an approachable and humble community leader by encouraging and engaging his staff and students to create a thriving environment for all.”

In July, Dr. Davies will attend the NAESP 2024 UNITED Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, where he will be recognized for his achievement.

Watch Nick's Video

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2024 Washington State Secondary
Assistant Principal of the Year

Heidi Fagerness
Chehalis Middle School
 Chehalis School District 

Heidi Fagerness, assistant principal at Chehalis Middle School in the Chehalis School District, was named the 2024 Washington State Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year. Fagerness will also be recognized nationally by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), where she will compete with winners from other states for the NASSP’s National Assistant Principal of the Year award, announced in early April. 

Fagerness has been an assistant principal for six years, and she shows up every day with the “intention of serving others through my head, hands, and heart.” Chehalis Middle School principal Chris Simpson describes Fagerness as “highly effective in promoting and creating a positive culture at CMS.” 

In April, Fagerness will be honored at NASSP's Trailblazing weekend with winners from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity, and the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools. 

Watch Heidi's Video

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Process

• Application opens
• AWSP checks eligibility of each nominee and communicates with each about their nomination.
• Eligible nominees are sent an application to complete.
• AWSP Selection Committee scores applications and makes selections
• Winners/Districts are notified
• State winners complete an application for the National Associations' awards and are honored at their respective events.

National Association of Elementary School Principals

• One amazing assistant principal will represent Washington for NAESP's National Outstanding Assistant Principal Program (NOAP).
• NAESP honors assistant principals from around the country and does not select a national winner. 
• Applications for the NOAP program are due in February.
• Winners are recognized at the  joint NAESP/NASSP UNITED Conference in July.

National Association of Secondary School Principals

• Each year, one amazing assistant principal will represent Washington for NASSP's National Assistant Principal of the Year program (NAPOY).
• NASSP NAPOY applications are due in December. 
• From the state representatives, NASSP selects three finalists and one national winner. 
• The winner will be selected and recognized during National AP Week, at the NASSP Trailblazing weekend in Washington, DC, in April. 

Past Winners

View past Assistant Principal of the Year winners. 

Past Winners

Principal of the Year

Looking for info about recognition and timelines for our Principal of the Year?

POY Recognition