Inside AWSP

AWSP President's Award

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About the Award

The AWSP President’s Award is given to a person outside the association who has advocated on behalf of principals and the principalship in Washington state. Recipients are chosen by the AWSP Board in consultation with the AWSP executive director. The award is presented at the association's annual conference in June.



2022 Winner

Chase Buffington, Cispus Learning Center Director

Chase Buffington
Chase Buffington, Director, Cispus Learning Center

Each year, the AWSP Board President has the opportunity to select an individual or group who demonstrates support of principals and the principalship in the education of each and every student. The Association of Washington School Principals is thrilled to announce that our 2022 President’s Award has been awarded to Chase Buffington, Director of the Cispus Learning Center. 

Throughout the course of the pandemic, Chase woke up every morning in the fight of his life to save the Cispus Learning Center. Cispus hosts incredible outdoor learning and leadership programs for students and adults across the state. COVID forced Cispus to close its doors, and without any programs, there was no revenue coming in. 

Chase took that challenge head-on and worked tirelessly to secure grants and advocate for rescue funds, while at the same time making much-needed infrastructure improvements. Those improvements ensured that when Cispus opened the doors back up for kids, the facility would last another 50 or more years. His positive attitude, sheer determination, and belief in what is possible for Cispus is why he is this year’s AWSP President’s Award Winner. Thanks to Chase, AWSP is still the only principals association in the country that owns and operates an outdoor learning center. 




2013 AWSP Special Recognition Award | Leadership Framework Team

On occasion, we honor individuals and groups who have achieved extraordinary results during a school year with the AWSP Special Recognition Award. 

In 2013, AWSP honored a group of practicing principals, university researchers and industry experts who created Version 2.0 of the AWSP Leadership Framework. The AWSP Leadership Framework has been adopted by all the state’s 295 school districts as the framework for the state’s new required principal evaluation system.  

Special Recognition Award Recipients:

  • Gene Sharratt, Ph.D. | Executive Director, Washington Student Achievement Council
  • Glenn Malone, Ed.D. | Exec. Dir. of Assessment, Accountability/School Success, Puyallup SD
  • Sally Lancaster, Ed.D. | Principal, Everett High, Everett PS
  • Larry Lashway | Formerly a Program Specialist with OSPI Professional Education and Certification 
  • Chad Lochmiller, Ph.D. | Asst. Professor, College of Education, WSU-Tri-Cities
  • Kristen Schroeder | Principal, James Sales Elementary, Franklin Pierce SD
  • Nancy Strobel | Principal, Mountain View Elementary, Puyallup SD
  • Ailene Baxter, Ed.D. | Principal, Ferrucci Jr. High, Puyallup SD
  • Brian Lowney | Principal, Emerald Ridge High School, Puyallup SD


Past Award Winners

  • 2021 | WA State Principals and APs
  • 2020 | Bill Williams
  • 2019 | Susan & Marty Fortin
  • 2018 | Chris Reykdal
  • 2017 | Sue Anderson & Jerry Bender
 
  • 2016 | Sen. Patty Murray & Sarah Bolton
  • 2015 | Jim Eisenhardt
  • 2014 | Edie Harding
  • 2013 | Jim Howard, Ph.D. 
  • 2012 | Michaela Miller
  • 2011 | Battelle (Jeff Estes & Peggy Willcuts)
  • 2010 | Dale Kinsley & Judy Hartmann
  • 2009 | John Pehrson
  • See the complete list of past winners.


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For More Information 

Scott Seaman | Executive Director | (800) 562-6100

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