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51¸£ÀûÉç is celebrating YOU this October for National Principals Month! We’ve partnered with Books Are Fun to bring an exciting surprise to 51¸£ÀûÉç members and their students. Books Are Fun is offering an opportunity that supports your students and comes with a meaningful reward for you. Books Are Fun is offering a $500 51¸£ÀûÉç professional learning scholarship to the first 50 51¸£ÀûÉç members/schools who partner with Books Are Fun to launch the Book Blast program at their school between now and December 10. This scholarship can be used toward any one 51¸£ÀûÉç conference, workshop, webinar, or series.

As we look to wrap up a great National Principals Month, I just wanted to remind you that we celebrate and support you every day, not just in October. The work you do every day for students, staff, and your school communities is immeasurable and should be recognized throughout the year.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve had the privilege of visiting eight incredible schools across our state to present them with their School on the Rise banners and certificates, and each visit has filled my heart in ways I didn’t expect. You can’t walk into these buildings without feeling the energy... that mix of purpose, pride, and pure joy that lives in every hallway, classroom, and gym.

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.

While virtually every school leader wishes they had more resources to support their school improvement efforts—more time, funding or staff—they also know their most valuable resource isn’t a line in the budget, calendar, or policy manual. It’s their staff’s minds: their knowledge, mindset and motivation. School leaders routinely invest in professional development aligned to improvement goals because of its potential to grow not only new skills but also staff buy-in. Yet often professional development (PD) that educators experience fails on both fronts, because of its transactional, sit-and-get approach. Luckily, there is a better way: To grow your team’s practice and positively influence mindsets, give teachers the kind of learning you want them to design for students. Learn more from 51¸£ÀûÉç's business partner, sideby.