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Principal of the Year

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Washington State Principal of the Year Awards

AWSP is a K-12 organization, and we recognize two winners, one elementary and one secondary principal, as our Washington State Principals of the Year. The elementary winner will represent Washington as our NAESP National Distinguished Principal award winner, and the secondary principal will represent Washington for the NASSP Principal of the Year award. 


2023 Winners

2023 Washington State Elementary Principal of the Year

Headshot of Dana Stiner

Dr. Dana Stiner
 Pine Tree Elementary
 Kent School District 

Dana Stiner, principal at Pine Tree Elementary School in the Kent School District, was named this year’s Washington State Elementary Principal of the Year. Stiner will also be recognized at the national level by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). She will be recognized with winners from other states as one of NAESP’s National Distinguished Principals.

Personable. Trusted. Genuine. These are just a few of the qualities describing Kent School District Principal Dana Stiner. She’s one of those people you wish you could clone – and so are the outcomes of her achievements.

Dr. Stiner is in her sixth year as principal at Pine Tree Elementary. Before her arrival, the school had four different principals in four years. Turnover was high, student behavior was a challenge, and bullying was on the rise. Dana worked closely with staff to create a plan that included a positive reward system, social skills training, and developing a culture where everyone felt heard. Her team’s work resulted in an environment where students thrived socially and academically and where students looked forward to going each day.

 

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2023 Washington State Secondary Principal of the Year

Headshot of Shannon Leatherwood

Shannon Leatherwood
Spanaway Middle School
Bethel School District

Shannon Leatherwood, principal at Spanaway Middle School in the Bethel School District, was named this year’s Washington State Secondary Principal of the Year. Leatherwood will also be recognized at the national level by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). She will compete with winners from other states for the NASSP National Principal of the Year award.

Leatherwood, in her 12th year as a principal and fifth at Spanaway Middle School, leads with two principles. First, she is driven by what is best for students. And secondly, she believes if something isn’t sustainable, it’s not worth doing.

A tireless advocate for students, Leatherwood leads by example and serves with her whole heart, creating a culture of inclusivity, support, and pride in students, staff, and community while maintaining a high standard of academic excellence. In her time at Spanaway Middle School, she has built a strong and collaborative leadership team, increased the school's inclusionary practices, created better access to quality learning, improved school and student safety by growing restorative practices and strengthening support systems. This was all done by providing the right professional development for the school’s staff to grow their individual and collective efficacy.

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National Recognition

For national recognition, our Elementary Principal of the Year winner will represent Washington State for the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Distinguished Principal award, and our Secondary Principal of the Year for the National Association of Secondary School Principal (NASSP) Principal of the Year award. 

National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)

  • One principal will represent Washington for NAESP's National Distinguished Principal Program (NDP).
  • NAESP honors principals from around the country and does not select a national winner. 
  • Our state winner must apply for the NDP program by May 5, 2023.
  • Winners are recognized in Washington, D.C. sometime in October 2023.

National Association of Secondary School Principals

  • One principal will represent Washington for NASSP's National Principal of the Year (NPOY).
  • NASSP selects one national winner from the state representatives.
  • Our state winner's application for the NPOY program is due May 2023.
  • State representatives are honored at the National Principals Institute in Washington, D.C., usually in late September/early October. 
  • The National Principal of the Year is selected in October for National Principals Month. 

2024 POY Nominations

nominate today for Principal of the Year
We know principal leadership matters. Let's recognize some of the amazing leadership around the state. Help us find the next Washington State Principal of the Year, as well as our state winners for the National Association of Elementary School Principals and National Association of Secondary School Principals award programs.


Nominate Today!



Assistant Principal of the Year and Past POY Winners


Assistant Principal of the Year

Learn more about our state and national assistant principal recognitions.

AP Recognition

Past POY Winners

Check out our list of past winners. 

View List



Julie Woods

For More Information 

Julie Woods | Member Services Specialist | (800) 562-6100

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