51¸£ÀûÉç

Each year, 51¸£ÀûÉç’s Advocacy Advisory Council has the opportunity to select a state-level public servant who has demonstrated support of principals and the principalship in the education of all students. We’re thrilled to announce that our 2025 Torch of Leadership Award is presented to Representative Steve Bergquist (D-Renton), who currently serves on the Appropriations, Education, and Early Learning & Human Services committees.

The Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL) and the Association of Washington School Principals (51¸£ÀûÉç) will present 42 schools across the state with our Washington Schools on the Rise Award this fall. This is double of the submissions from the 2024 award year.

The Association of Washington School Principals (51¸£ÀûÉç), alongside its student leadership division—the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL)—has been nationally recognized by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) for outstanding achievement in school communications.

OLYMPIA –– Every year, the 51¸£ÀûÉç Board President selects someone to receive the 51¸£ÀûÉç President’s Award. The award goes to someone who is a relentless advocate for principals and assistant principals, and the principalship, in the education of each and every student (51¸£ÀûÉç’s mission). Woody Howard, the 2024-25 51¸£ÀûÉç Board President and principal at Ben Franklin Elementary School in Vancouver Public Schools, selected Erin Lucich this year. Erin is the Director of School Improvement and Educational Leadership in ESD 112.

OLYMPIA –– Raenette ("Rae") Sasaki Wood is the fourth winner of 51¸£ÀûÉç's Annalee Braley Membership Award. Her devotion to mentoring fellow leaders, supporting Leaders of Color, and advocating for the needs of principals and assistant principals demonstrates why she so perfectly honors and carries forward Annalee’s legacy.