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Current Associate Principal of the Year
Past Associate Principals of the Year

Associate Principal of the Year Award

The Wisconsin Associate Principal of the Year program recognizes Associate Principals whose leadership has resulted in improved student learning, instructional collaboration, and a safe and positive school environment. Nominations are accepted from teachers, parents, principals, and others across Wisconsin. A committee representing teachers, superintendents, board members, parents, and the Department of Public Instruction reviews the applications and selects the three APOYs (elementary, middle and high school).

The Wisconsin Associate Principals of the Year will be recognized at the Associate Principals' Conference in January and will receive $1,000 for a project at their school. 

Application Process and Timeline

September 1, 2026 - October 9, 2026
AWSA will begin accepting nominations and sending out applications to our nominees. 

October 16, 2026
All applications are due and are sent to judges.

November 2026
The winners are announced. 

December 15, 2026
Winning applications sent to NPA (National Principals Association).

January 27-29, 2027
Wisconsin Associate Principals Conference. 

National APOY Eligibility: 

  • Current staff of the NPA, current members of the NPA Board of Directors and current NPA State Executive Directors and their respective family members are ineligible.
  • Board members of NPA are ineligible for consideration for one year after completion of their Board service.
  • Candidate must notify NPA immediately of any change in his or her status as an assistant principal. Failure to notify NPA of a change could jeopardize a candidate's eligibility for the national award.
  • Candidate must be an active assistant principal, assistant headmaster, or assistant leader of a virtual, public, or private middle level or high school from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity, or the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools. 
  • Candidate must have served as an assistant principal for three or more consecutive school years.
  • Candidate must complete the online NPA National Assistant Principal of the Year application.
  • Candidate must be a member of NPA and his or her state affiliate association at the time of selection and throughout his or her tenure as State Assistant Principal of the Year. For national finalists, these conditions must also be met at the time of national assistant principal of the year judging, when the national winner is announced, and during tenure.
  • Previous national winners of the NPA National Assistant Principal of the Year award are ineligible.