About the Award
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 National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Distinguished Principal award winner, and the secondary principal will represent Washington for the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Principal of the Year award.
2026 Winners
2026 Washington State Elementary Principal of the Year
Kim Doughty
Peter G. Schmidt Elementary, Tumwater SD
At the heart of Kim Doughty’s leadership is a simple yet powerful belief: every student, staff member, and family deserves to feel seen, known, and valued. Under her guidance, Peter G. Schmidt Elementary has become a place of hope and high expectations for all learners. Doughty and her team launched the Human Lighthouse initiative, anchoring the school’s culture around visibility, connection, and hope. Through student leadership programs, cross-grade buddy systems, and staff visibility tools, she has strengthened trust and relationships across the entire school community.
2026 Washington State Secondary Principal of the Year
Dr. Brent Osborn
Lakeside High School, Nine Mile Falls SD
2027 POY Nominations Open in February
Process
- Nomination period opens.
- AWSP checks the eligibility of each nominee and communicates with each about their nomination.
- Eligible nominees are sent an application to complete.
- AWSP’s 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.
2027 Award Timelines
- Nominations open in April. ANYONE can nominate!
- We will accept nominations through the end of May.
- Nominees can apply through the end of August.
- The selection committee selects a winner to be announced in October during National Principals Month.
- State winners complete the national application packet.
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.
- Winners are recognized in Washington, D.C. in October.
National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
- One principal will represent Washington for NASSP’s National Principal of the Year (NPOY).
- NASSP selects one national winner from the state representatives.
- State representatives are honored at the National Principals Institute in Washington, D.C., in October.
Assistant Principal of the Year
Learn more about our state and national assistant principal recognitions.
