March 4th Edition

AWSA Update

Register for the Creating a Culture of Excellence for All Conference

The conference will highlight the leadership practices essential to building continuous improvement at the school and district levels and will feature sessions by Wisconsin school and district exemplars (June 25-26, 2026, in Madison). View the program here.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Students with Disabilities

Inclusive educational frameworks, such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL), can serve as a bridge between educational philosophies that embrace diversity as a strength and the design of systems in which each and every student can access, and engage with, meaningful high-quality learning experiences. Read more here.

Beyond the “Seat at the Table”: Why Principal Presence in Special Education is Non-Negotiable

As school leaders, we often talk about “all students,” but the true test of that philosophy lies in how we lead our special education systems. In my seventh year as principal at Silver Spring Intermediate, I’ve come to realize that the most impactful work we do to close the achievement gap happens when we bridge the divide between the main office and the specialized learning environment. When we integrate our most vulnerable learners into the core of our leadership vision, we move beyond “management” and into true advocacy. Read more here.

A Learning Environment That Reflects a Culture of Success

A healthy educational environment should embody an inherent culture of success. At Reagan, recognized among the state’s most successful high schools for both student achievement and growth over time, we maximize the odds of success by providing a learning environment that accelerates results rather than hinders them. We believe our facility must reflect our learning culture, serving as a tangible expression of the high expectations and achievements we hold for every student. Inspiring examples of achievement appear throughout our campus, and by embedding images of triumph into daily life, we instill a deep-seated belief that goals are attainable and success is possible for all students. Read more here.

AWSA 2026 Election

The AWSA Board of Directors election will be held electronically from April 15-April 30, 2026. This year, Directors will be elected from Regions 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11 and 12.  Members of each of these regions will be emailed a notification on April 15th with a link to an online ballot listing the candidate(s) for that region. As part of its succession planning, the Board has recruited candidates in each region. See candidates 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.