May 20th EditionAWSA UpdateSchools Must Act By July 1 to Adopt Policy Prohibiting Cell Phone Use During Instructional TimeThis year, Wisconsin joined 35 other states in enacting legislation designed to limit the use of cell phones and other electronic devices in school. 2025 Wisconsin Act 42 (Act 42)* was signed by Governor Evers in October, which mandates that all school districts adopt a policy by July 1, 2026, prohibiting students from using wireless communication devices, other than a school district-issued device, during instructional time. Read more here. Register Today for the 2026 Elementary Principals’ Convention
Learn and enjoy time with your colleagues around the state October 7-9, 2026 at the Grand Geneva Resort! Registration is now open. Save the Date for Upcoming AWSA Conferences
Registration will open for both conferences this fall. Register a Team for the Creating a Culture of Excellence Conference
This conference highlights the schools that have demonstrated significant and regular growth for kids. Not lucky schools, but leading and learning ones. The presentations are all done by these schools; not by vendors or presenters that have cool or flashy things to share that aren’t backed by results. We hope you can join us! Please review the schedule and register today! AWSA Affiliating with the National Principal Association July 1st
AWSA has always operated as a single, unified PK–12 association. At the national level, however, school leader support has long been split between two organizations: the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Beginning July 1, 2026, AWSA will transition from these two separate national partners to the single unified National Principals Association (NPA). Read more here. Beyond Compliance: Why 3 Rural Schools are Redefining Student Capacity for a Global Economy
The year 2026 has brought clarity to something many of us in education have felt building for years: the industry 2.0 and 3.0 model of school isn’t just outdated—it’s actively restricting the learning of our children. In the Whitehall, Eleva-Strum and Alma School Districts, we’ve come to a simple but urgent realization: if we want to prepare students for a globally competitive, rapidly evolving future, we have to stop asking for compliance and start genuinely maximizing capacity. Read more here. Strategies to Support Rightful Presence of Each and Every Learner in Your School
What would it look like if every student, regardless of ability, background, or learning need, was truly welcomed, valued, and supported to learn alongside their peers? Across Wisconsin, several school districts are working to make this vision a reality. Read more here.
Are You Retiring?If you are retiring this year, please let us know by sending an email to [email protected]. We’d like to include you in our recognition announcement and also share with you information about retired membership with AWSA. May 6th EditionAWSA UpdateA New Chapter for the Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance
Founded in 1991, the SAA advocates on behalf of school leaders to strengthen Wisconsin’s national leadership in education. AWSA was one of the founding members. Today, the four member association’s executive directors announced changes in store for the alliance. Advancing Student Achievement: Coherent Systems, High Expectations and a "Name-by-Face" ApproachGibraltar Area School District has undertaken a comprehensive transformation to ensure every student is known “by name and by face” and supported through intentional, high-impact learning systems. By aligning instructional practices, professional learning, and student support structures, the district has created a cohesive approach that has driven measurable gains in student achievement and system-wide excellence. Read more here. Just Be Honest
It sounds so simple, but if we could all just be honest and engage in the difficult conversations versus avoidance, we would be amazed at the impact. I wish someone had told me that when I began my administrative journey; that when we avoid taxing conversations, we pay for it in culture and data. Now in my fourth year as a principal, I have become comfortable being uncomfortable and here’s how I did it. Read more here. Navigating the Ripple Effects of Education Reform and Geography in Wisconsin’s Public Schools
Over the past several decades, Wisconsin has been at the forefront of significant educational policy shifts, including major reforms to teachers’ union power and changes to educator certification requirements. School leaders manage these transitions daily while working to maintain high standards for student achievement and teacher retention. My recent research takes a comprehensive look at two critical areas: the long-term impact of Act 10 on student performance and the unique labor market challenges facing our rural schools. Read more here. Books are Fun: Get Books into Every BackpackWe all recognize the critical role that access to age-appropriate books plays in student success, yet data shows that many students still lack sufficient books at home. To help bridge this gap, Books are Fun brings more books into students’ hands through the Book Blast program. Learn more here. Register Today for the 2026 Elementary Principals’ ConventionLearn and enjoy time with your colleagues around the state October 7-9, 2026 at the Grand Geneva Resort! Registration is now open. AWSA Election ResultsThe following members have been elected or re-elected to serve on the AWSA Board of Directors in 2026-27: See results here. Are You Retiring?If you are retiring this year, please let us know by sending an email to [email protected]. We’d like to include you in our recognition announcement and also share with you information about retired membership with AWSA. |
