About the Award
The Washington State Principal of the Year program celebrates exceptional school leaders whose leadership strengthens schools, supports educators, and creates better opportunities for students.
AWSP recognizes outstanding principals at the elementary, middle level, and high school levels. These honorees represent the very best of Washington school leadership and help elevate the work, stories, and impact of principals across our state and nationally.
How the Program Works
AWSP will select three Washington Principal of the Year honorees:
- One elementary school principal
- One middle level principal
- One high school principal
From these three honorees, AWSP will name one Washington State Principal of the Year.
All three Washington honorees will represent Washington nationally through the National Principals Association’s Principal of the Year program in their respective grade-level categories.
This structure allows Washington to recognize exceptional leadership across every school level while maintaining one statewide Principal of the Year.
Our Award Sponsor
For more than 40 years, Lexia® has led the science of reading revolution, helping educators create real literacy change. Working hand in hand with administrators and educators, we help create equitable learning opportunities through the effective implementation of the science of reading. Learn more about Lexia.
More Than an Individual Award
Principal of the Year recognizes an exceptional school leader, but the honor is about much more than one person.
Great principals create the conditions for students, educators, families, and communities to thrive. This award celebrates the people and communities surrounding each honoree, highlights effective school leadership, and elevates the important work happening in Washington schools.
Honorees also gain a platform to share their leadership stories, advocate for public education, and contribute their voices to conversations about the future of schools and school leadership.
Who is Eligible?
Current Washington principals serving elementary, middle level, and high schools are eligible for recognition.
Candidates must meet NPA eligibility requirements, including at least three consecutive years of experience in the principal role and applicable membership requirements.
What Makes a Strong Candidate?
Strong candidates demonstrate sustained leadership that positively impacts students, staff, families, and the broader school community.
AWSP looks for principals who:
- Build a strong, inclusive, and student-centered school culture
- Develop meaningful relationships with students, staff, families, and community partners
- Develop leadership capacity in others
- Create collaborative systems for decision-making and continuous improvement
- Strengthen teaching, learning, and student opportunities
- Lead meaningful improvement across school culture, systems, and learning
- Demonstrate measurable and sustained impact over time
- Serve as advocates for students, educators, schools, and public education
No single model of an outstanding principal exists. We encourage nominees to share the leadership practices, challenges, accomplishments, and relationships that best demonstrate their impact.
Nominate a Principal – Closed Until February
Great leadership deserves to be recognized.
Students, families, educators, district leaders, colleagues, community members, and others are encouraged to nominate an outstanding Washington principal.
A nomination is the first step in the process. Once nominated, eligible principals will be invited to complete an application highlighting their leadership, impact, and school community.
Being nominated does not obligate a principal to apply. Eligible nominees can decide whether they would like to continue in the process.
Selection Process
- Nominations are submitted to AWSP.
- AWSP reviews each nominee for eligibility and communicates next steps to eligible nominees.
- Eligible nominees are invited to complete an application.
- AWSP’s selection committee reviews and scores applications.
- One elementary, one middle level, and one high school Principal of the Year honoree are selected.
- The committee notifies the three honorees and their districts.
- One of the three honorees is named Washington State Principal of the Year.
- All three Washington honorees will represent Washington nationally through the National Principals Association’s Principal of the Year program in their respective grade-level categories.
2027 Award Timeline
- October 26, 2026: Washington application deadline
- October 27 – November 12, 2026: AWSP selects three grade-level honorees and names one Washington State Principal of the Year
- December 15, 2026: NPA national application deadline
- February 6, 2027, 6 p.m. ET: National Education Leadership Awards dinner in Tampa, Florida
- February 6–9, 2027: National Principals Conference in Tampa, Florida
- Spring 2027: National winners are announced
What Honorees Receive
Washington Assistant Principal of the Year honorees receive:
- Statewide recognition from AWSP
- Recognition of their students, staff, school, district, and community
- National recognition through the National Principals Association
- Recognition at the National Education Leadership Awards
- Participation in the National Principals Conference
- Opportunities to share their leadership story through AWSP communications and events
- Opportunities to advocate for students, schools, the principalship, and public education
Most importantly, the recognition provides honorees with a platform to shine a light on the people, practices, and communities that make their schools successful.
National Recognition
AWSP’s three grade-level Principal of the Year honorees — elementary, middle level, and high school — will represent Washington nationally through the National Principals Association’s Principal of the Year program in their respective grade-level categories.
Each honoree will participate in NPA’s national recognition process within their respective school-level category and will be recognized alongside outstanding school leaders from across the country. Following the national application process, NPA selects national finalists in each grade-level category, with national winners announced in spring 2027.
Washington honorees will also be recognized during the National Education Leadership Awards at the National Principals Conference in Tampa, Florida, February 6–9, 2027.
The National Education Leadership Awards dinner will take place February 6 at 6 p.m. ET.
Washington State Principal of the Year
In addition to recognizing an elementary, middle level, and high school honoree, AWSP will select one individual to serve as the Washington State Principal of the Year.
The Washington State Principal of the Year serves as a statewide representative of excellent school leadership and helps amplify the voices, successes, challenges, and needs of Washington principals and their school communities.
2026 Honorees
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
Past Honorees
Washington has a long tradition of recognizing outstanding school leaders whose work has had a lasting impact on students, educators, and communities.
Assistant Principal of the Year
Learn more about our state and national assistant principal recognitions.
