Each year, AWSP recognizes an outstanding principal as the Washington State Principal of the Year. We also recognize one Washington State Assistant Principal of the Year. The awards provide significant recognition on the regional and state level. Principals and assistant principals are nominated each year. Their applications are scored by a review panel, and four winners are chosen to represent our state at the national level. Those awards are:

• National Association of Secondary School Principals | Principal of the Year
• National Association of Secondary School Principals | Assistant Principal of the Year
• National Association of Elementary School Principals | National Distinguished Principal
• National Association of Elementary School Principals | National Outstanding Assistant Principal

From that list, we select one state principal as our Principal of the Year and one AP as our Assistant Principal of the Year. These are our four amazing winners for 2022. And if you know a deserving principal or assistant principals, nominate them today. The award is so much more than a personal accomplishment. Recent Principal of the Year David Cooke called it “the best learning experience of my [his] career” in a recent blog post summarizing what he learned in his trip back to Washington, D.C.