Join us on October 1 from 4-5:30 p.m. as we kick off National Principals Month with our virtual Fall Principals' Forum. Our team kicks off the event and then will welcome State Superintendent Chris Reykdal and his Deputy Superintendent Dr. Michaela Miller. They'll talk about what's happening in education around the state. After that, we'll open up our topic-specific breakout rooms (topics and guest speakers will be posted as soon as they're confirmed). After reconvening briefly, you'll have another opportunity to join one of the breakout rooms you couldn't attend for the first session!
Registration is free! Clock hours will be available.
Agenda
4:00 p.m. |Welcome and Opening Statements | Superintendent Chris Reykdal
4:15 p.m. | Breakout Sessions (Choose one of four)
4:45 p.m | Reconvene in the main room
4:50 p.m. | Breakout Sessions (Select a different room than round one)
5:20 p.m. | Closing and Prizes
Sponsored by Next Level Leaders
Thank you to our Fall Forum sponsor, Next Level Leaders! A partnership between AWSP and WASA, Next Level Leaders is Washington State’s Premiere
Leadership Development Academy dedicated to
preparing leaders to conquer complex challenges
through the development of a two-year learning
community. Learn more and apply for cohort 2 at http://nll.academy.
Contributors
Jack Arend, Deputy Director, AWSP
Jack joined the AWSP team in July 2019. He has served in education since 1989 as an elementary, middle and high school music teacher. He began his building leadership career in the fall of 2006 as the principal of Peter G. Schmidt Elementary in the Tumwater School District. After eleven years in the principalship, he served two years at the Central Office level overseeing multiple content areas and mentoring first year teachers.
Chris Reykdal, State Superintendent, OSPI
Since taking office in January 2017, Superintendent Reykdal has directed an agency of more than 400 employees, centering OSPI’s work on equity, supporting the whole child, and providing excellent customer service and transparency to districts, the Legislature, media, and community members. As a former teacher, soccer coach, school board director, state legislator, and executive for our state’s community and technical college system, Chris has a unique perspective of the K–12 system and how our state supports learners from preschool through postsecondary learning.
Chris graduated summa cum laude from Washington State University (Go Cougs!) with a bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate, and he earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill. Chris is a lifelong learner who enjoys solving complex problems with data and research. In his free time, you can find Chris hiking, cheering on Washington’s sports teams, listening to 80s music (the greatest decade for pop music!), or seeing a movie with his family.
Dr. Michaela Miller, Deputy Superintendent, OSPI
The Deputy Superintendent oversees a variety of divisions within the agency, supports the Superintendent to carry out his goals, and provides leadership and resources to support districts in helping all students develop skills necessary for their future. Prior to her appointment as Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Miller was the Director of Outreach and Engagement for the National Board. From 2007–13, she was the Director of Washington’s Teacher and Principal Evaluation Project, National Board Certification Program and Beginning Educator Support Team (BEST) for OSPI.
From 1995–2007, Dr. Miller taught high school, facilitated National Board candidates, and mentored new teachers in the North Thurston Public Schools. She achieved National Board certification in 2002 and renewed in 2011. Dr. Miller earned her Doctorate from the University of Washington and holds a Washington state principal certification from Seattle Pacific University.
Briana is a current AWSP member and the Assistant Director of Restorative Practices & Student Discipline at OSPI. Her role focuses on reducing disproportionate exclusionary discipline by providing training and technical assistance on discipline laws, as well as guidance and resources to implement culturally and trauma-responsive restorative practices. Before joining OSPI in 2023, Briana served as a middle school assistant principal and high school ASB leadership/AVID/English teacher. She stays engaged with students as a certified challenge course facilitator through AWSP’s Cispus Learning Center and as a senior counselor with AWSL’s Mt. Olympus summer leadership program.
Chelsea Lopez, Director of Educator Advancement, The Social Institute
Chelsea Lopez is a digital native with over 5 years in education, K-8. She began her teaching career as a Special Education teacher before taking on the role of Intervention Coordinator. In her time in education, she was also a testing coordinator, middle school cheerleading coach, softball coach, and assistant athletic director. Currently, she is the Director of Educator Advancement at The Social Institute, supporting schools to empower students to navigate their social worlds, both online and offline, in positive and high-character ways. She has presented at CSCA, NWAIS, and other leading education conferences.
Tom Adams, Principal, Curtis High School, University Place SD
Tom Adams is the principal of Curtis High School in University Place, Washington. He serves as the Chair-Elect of the High School Grade Level Leadership Committee for the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP), where he helps lead initiatives aimed at enhancing educational leadership and student achievement across the state.
Kim Doepker, Principal, Garrison MS, Walla Walla SD
Kim Doepker has worked in education for 29 years, gaining experience teaching in the classroom grades 3rd-8th, as an instructional coach, assistant principal and principal. As a seasoned principal, she is passionate about instructional leadership, growing the best in teachers and student success. In addition, she is also involved in principal mentoring through AWSP. Outside of school, Kim enjoys time with family, grandchildren, reading and staying active.
Krissy Johnson, Assistant Director of Attendance & Engagement at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Krissy Johnson is the Assistant Director of Attendance & Engagement at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Krissy has been leading the agency’s attendance & truancy efforts for the last 8 years. She has initiated the agency’s effort to change state law regarding attendance and community engagement boards (HB 1113), as well as led the ESSER Attendance & Reengagement Project, which supports districts and ESDs across the state to reengage students who were not enrolled throughout the pandemic. Krissy believes that attendance is a powerful signal to schools that indicate areas of growth, inequity, and a signal to support students better. Krissy has worked at OSPI for 12 years. She has a master’s in public administration from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Affairs and is a proud alumnus of the Evergreen State College.
Allyson Fritz, MSW, has been serving as the Attendance & Reengagement Coordinator for NEWESD 101 since 2022. In this role, she provides vital support to schools and districts across NorthEast Washington, focusing on improving student attendance and fostering reengagement strategies. Prior to joining NEWESD 101, Allyson worked in international development with a focus on girls' education. Her years living in West Africa have profoundly informed her approach to equitable and inclusive communication and family engagement.
Since 1982 - collaborating within a place, making change, and fulfilling our mission.
Attendance is a critical building block for student learning. If students are not present, they cannot engage in learning. Attendance is a powerful signal and leading indicator of equity. It can signal when students might need additional support and areas for system and school improvement. Chronic absenteeism impacts all students—no matter their age. Students that miss just two days a month for any reason are more likely to not read at grade level, and more likely to not graduate.
A school district’s discipline policies and procedures must ensure due process protections for students. Policies should provide a continuum of equitable, culturally responsive, instructional approaches to support students and all members of the school community in meeting behavioral expectations.
Educators, parents, students, and families can find information and resources on this site related to discipline laws, data, and training.
Chapter 392-400 Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Student Discipline Emergency Rules
Includes the definitions of discretionary and non-discretionary discipline from RCW 28A.600.015(6).
References RCWs related to professional standards of educator certification and renewal, Teacher and Principal Evaluation Criterion and Frameworks (TPEP), and Cultural Competency Diversity Equity and Inclusion Standards (CCDEI).
Requires school districts and school boards to revisit their district policies and procedures so that all staff work cooperatively toward consistent enforcement of proper student behavior throughout each school as well as within each classroom.
Replaces “Emergency Expulsion” with “Emergency Removal” per RCW 28A.600.495.
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world - in the classroom and beyond, online and offline - in healthy, high-character ways.
