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Washington State Names 2025 Principals and Assistant Principals of the Year
The Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) proudly announces the 2025 Washington State Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year award recipients. These outstanding school leaders have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to student success, equity, and community engagement. Their visionary leadership has transformed their schools into inclusive, high-achieving environments where students and staff thrive.
Learn MoreLegislative Update for 3.21.25
This week’s focus was on revenue and budget planning, with a new forecast projecting $844M less in state revenue over the next four years. Senate Democrats released a tax proposal aimed at the wealthy, while key education bills (SB 5192 & SB 5263) could bring $1B to K-12 schools. Meanwhile, national headlines emerged as Trump…
Learn MoreRetirement & Health Benefits – March 21, 2025
As the session moves toward Sine Die, now is the time for both houses to coordinate and negotiate their differing budgets and bills that have made it past both houses. Note, both House and Senate budgets will be released 3/24 so the status of much of what is covered below may be clarified by inclusion…
Learn MoreUnderstanding the Parents’ Bill of Rights: Clarification on HB 1296 and SB 5181
We've been hearing questions from principals and assistant principals across the state about the Parents' Bill of Rights and legislation around them (HB 1296 and SB 5181). To help inform our members and clear up confusion around the Bill of Rights and each of the bills, we have some information to share. The information for…
Learn MoreRespect the Game, Respect the Rules: The Legal Authority of School Administrators at Athletic Events
Washington state law provides clear expectations for behavior at school-sponsored events and grants school officials the authority to maintain safety and order. Laws surrounding disorderly conduct and failure to comply with school administrator directives exist to ensure that events remain enjoyable for everyone. Whether it’s addressing a disruptive spectator, managing an unruly crowd, or dealing…
Learn MoreAnnouncing the 2025 Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year!
Juanita High School’s Terry Jess has been named the Washington State Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year in recognition of his outstanding leadership, dedication to equity, and transformative impact on the school community.
Learn MoreLegislative Update for 3.14.25
As week nine of the legislative session wraps up, AWSP continues to advocate for public education at both the state and federal levels. This week, a team of Washington principals joined over 400 school leaders in Washington, D.C., for the National School Leaders Advocacy Conference, addressing critical issues like school funding, educator recruitment, and student…
Learn MoreAnnouncing the 2025 Secondary Principal of the Year!
The Association of Washington School Principals is proud to announce that Principal Chelsea Gallagher has been awarded the prestigious Washington State Secondary Principal of the Year title for 2025. Gallagher’s leadership has been instrumental in fostering an inclusive, supportive, and high-achieving school environment, making Mt. Spokane a beacon of excellence for students, staff, and the…
Learn MoreRetirement & Health Benefits – March 14, 2025
Since covering pension/retirement/health insurance issues on behalf of WASA and AWSP, there are a few important points we have learned. This is just a brief summary of selected retirement related topics. One needs to check with the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) and the Health Care Authority (HCA) for definitive answers to questions about their…
Learn MoreWomen’s History Month: Honoring the Legacy of Women in Education
This Women’s History Month, we recognize the impact of female educators who transformed schools and expanded opportunities for students in Washington state. These trailblazing women served as principals, administrators, and advocates, shaping policies and breaking barriers in education.
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