Member Services
WASA active member services include access to extensive professional
development opportunities throughout the year, liability insurance, and
legal services for due process, contract, and other related professional
assignment issues.
In addition, WASA provides individual assistance for members
with questions and concerns regarding employment information,
administrative situations, and problem solving. WASA members have
extensive opportunities for ongoing networking, including peer idea
exchanges in job-alike component groups, as well as more expansive
situations.
WASA member benefits include regular informational mailings,
electronic information sharing, and critical information focus documents
included in our communications services. Active members enjoy a sense of
professional commitment and active engagement in making a difference in
the lives of students and student learning.
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
Career Advancement
Email John Dekker for
additional information.
Attracting, developing, and retaining competent, visionary leaders is
essential to the success of our educational system. WASA provides career
assistance through the following services:
- Career
Connection - This online professional listing service
publicizes administrative positions available within Washington and
neighboring states.
- Career Counseling - This service is available to
members contemplating position changes. Contract design and
interpretation, responses to legal and technical questions, back-up data
for negotiations and on-the-scene support in the event of a district
emergency or individual problem are also part of the services available
to all WASA members. Contact Paul
Rosier for additional information.
- Superintendent Mentor Program - This program
assists new or current administrators to become more proficient in their
jobs. Pairs are matched from the same region and special informative
meetings also may be scheduled. Contact John Dekker for
additional information.
Contact Dan Steele for
additional information.
WASA maintains an active governmental relations program. Legislative
activities include:
- Developing and analyzing legislation.
- Providing and coordinating testimony at hearings.
- Preparing education impact statements and special reports.
- Acting as liaison with legislators and staff.
- Organizing legislative strategies with members and coordinating
efforts with other agencies and associations.
- Polling membership through "faxback" surveys for use with the media
and the legislature.
- Coordinating the legislative agendas and strategies for the Alliance
of Education Associations and the Association of Educational Service
Districts.
- Communicating weekly during session to members through WASA's This
Week in Olympia (TWIO) newsletter.
Contact Mack Armstrong for
additional information.
WASA is committed to supporting and improving leadership through a
variety of professional development programs and events. More than 20
conferences and workshops are sponsored or cosponsored by WASA each
year. WASA members receive a discounted member rate for all workshops
and conferences.
Contact Paul Rosier for
additional information.
WASA consultants are experienced school administrators who are
available to provide advice and information on a variety of subjects
based on their own experiences and knowledge. Contract services
include:
- Management & Operational Reviews
- School Construction Planning
- Financial Planning
- Legislative Assistance
- Strategic Planning
- Washington State EduPortal®
Contact Paul Rosier for
additional information.
WASA places a high priority on supporting its members 24 hours a day.
The executive staff are experienced, professional colleagues who are
available to advise members on personal and professional matters in all
situations related to their roles a education leaders.
-
Advice and Counsel - WASA will
provide the counsel of qualified, experienced administrators to any
member who faces a problem or potential problem related to his or her
professional assignment. WASA’s executive director will arrange
for confidential help.
-
Legal Services - WASA members have a
$250,000 Educators Professional Liability Policy to protect them in the
legal situations they face daily. Sponsored by WASA, the policy is
available at no additional cost to members.Members also are eligible for
legal assistance with due process, contract rights and other issues
related to their professional assignment. WASA’s contribution for
legal assistance is up to $2,500.
-
Ethics Assistance - In 1999, the WASA
Board of Directors adopted a Code of Ethics to provide guidance to WASA
members. The WASA administrative team is available to provide advice and
counsel for members on ethical issues they may encounter as a result of
their district or professional responsibilities.
-
Problem Solving - WASA provides the
networking capability within the organization or in concert with other
agencies to assist school districts or members in problem
resolution.
-
Conflict Intervention - Conflict
intervention among parties within school districts is sometimes needed.
Teams composed of representatives from WASA, the Washington State School
Directors’ Association and the Association of Washington School
Principals are available to assist in diffusing conflicts between
board/superintendent, board/staff or board member/board member and to
recommend positive alternatives.
-
Contract Review - Whether negotiating
a new employment contract or updating an existing one, WASA provides
contract evaluation and recommendations to support members in a variety
of employment positions.
-
Mentorship - WASA provides peer
mentors for all new superintendents. Mentors for any new or experienced
WASA members will be appointed upon request.
-
Career Counseling - Confidential and
professional support is available for all members with assistance in
their career paths, employment opportunities, and contract
development.
-
Retirement Counseling - WASA staff
members can assist WASA members in preparing for retirement.
Contact Paul Rosier for
additional information.
The WASA Hotline is the association's monthly newsletter
(except July). It includes summaries of board action, planned region and
statewide events, news articles about colleagues, articles on timely
issues, plus abstracts of current developments affecting members.
Special materials distributed throughout the year include:
- Legislative guides.
- Legislative reports.
- Survey results.
- Levy updates.
- Education reform documents.
- Annual publications include pictorial directories by region
(distributed to WASA active members) and annual reports.
- WASA's Honorary Awards - WASA annually honors and
recognizes outstanding educational administrators and individuals in
other professions who have made extraordinary contributions to K-12
education.
- PEMCO Robert J. Handy Most Effective Administrator Awards
- Established in 2002, these awards (presented annually to
based on three district-size categories) seek to recognize outstanding
Washington public school administrators.
- AASA National Superintendent of the Year Program
- WASA assists in the coordination of this program. More
information is available at www.aasa.org.
Administrator Scholarships
Student Scholarships
- WASA/PEMCO 21st Century
Educator Scholarships - Three awards of $1,000 for four years
are given from three applicant pools: Eastern Washington, Western
Washington, and minorities. Applicants must be seniors who plan to
pursue K-12 educational careers. Applications are made available in
late fall of each year. For more information, please contact the WASA
office at 800-859-9272.
Contact Dan Steele for
additional information.
Through the School
Information and Research Service, Inc., a WASA-managed enterprise,
school districts and WASA members can receive research findings on
current educational issues.
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