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Washington State Education Leaders Recognize and Honor Outstanding Colleagues, Citizens and Organizations for Their Service to Public Education

OLYMPIA, Washington – At today’s annual awards luncheon of the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA), school leaders, community citizens and organizations were recognized for their outstanding efforts to enhance and further the quality of public education in Washington state.

Among the awards presented were:

• WASA Golden Gavel Award – Partnership for Learning 

• Service to WASA Award – State Representative Don Cox (9th District)

• WASA Leadership Award –Mount Vernon School District Superintendent Dr. Mack Armstrong

• WASA Leadership for Student Achievement Award – Dr. Joseph Willhoft, Executive Director, Research and Evaluation, Tacoma Public Schools.

The WASA Golden Gavel Award is WASA’s most prestigious award and is presented to an individual, group or institution that has made an exceptional contribution to public education in Washington that has statewide application and is of lasting value. The Partnership for Learning (PFL) received this award for its commitment to several educational programs (including the Campaign for the Class of 2008, the Washington Opportunity Scholars program and the Latino Family Outreach program) to involve all stakeholders in the challenge of creating the best K-12 education system in Washington state. PFL has led impressive efforts in communicating the new graduation requirements, particularly to the educators and parents and students of the Class of 2008. 

“Partnership for Learning is honored to receive this year’s Golden Gavel Award for our leadership on the Campaign for the Class of 2008 and the Washington Opportunity Scholars Initiative,” said Jennifer Vranek, executive director of the Partnership. “Both of these efforts are succeeding because education associations, like WASA, have renewed their determination to help all students achieve at higher levels and to have the skills they need to thrive after high school. We look forward to continuing our work with parents, teachers and education leaders as our state prepares to implement new statewide graduation requirements in 2008.”

Representative Don Cox (9th District, Colfax) was honored with the Service to WASA Award for his outstanding contributions toward the goals of WASA. Rep. Cox’s career extends back to education from teaching and counseling to the superintendency in the Colfax School District. Now serving in the Washington State Legislature, Rep. Cox brings his unique and extremely valuable experience to the House Education, Higher Education and Appropriations Committees on which he serves. Upon learning of his selection for the award, Rep. Cox commented, 

“To be recognized by the very people your career paralleled is indeed humbling. Particularly so, when I see the heroic efforts that superintendents and principals make on a daily basis to help students learn. Those that have come to Olympia to help make policy have distinguished themselves in their testimony and in personal conversations with my colleagues in the legislature.”

Mount Vernon School District Superintendent Mack Armstrong received the 2004 WASA Leadership Award for his strong history of educational leadership and contributions to the field of education. Prior to and throughout his tenure as WASA President in 2002-03, Dr. Armstrong never missed an opportunity to work with legislators and others stakeholders to discuss how to meet the educational needs of all children in Washington state. He also has donated time nationally to the Horatio Alger Foundation, serving on their scholarship selection committee for several years. Responding to his selection for the award, Dr. Armstrong stated, 

“I am honored by this recognition. To be nominated and selected for the WASA Leadership Award is a great honor because WASA stands for leadership. It is at the core of what we do for every member. It exemplifies what we expect of any school and district administrator.”

The WASA Leadership for Student Achievement Award was first awarded in 2000 to honor a WASA member who has excelled in providing leadership for the implementation of an innovation that has resulted in measurable growth in student achievement. Exemplifying the passion and commitment that deserves the honor of this award, this year’s recipient is Tacoma Public School’s Dr. Joseph Willhoft, Executive Director for Research and Evaluation. For the last decade, Dr. Wilhoft has been a major contributor to state leadership for student accountability and increased student achievement. He has provided assessment expertise to the Commission on Student Learning and the Accountability Task Force. He presently serves on the state assessment program’s National Technical Advisory Committee and State Superintendent Terry Bergeson’s committee regarding the Certificate of Academic Achievement; each of these roles is in addition to the daily responsibilities of his position with Tacoma Public Schools. 

“It is very special to be recognized by one’s colleagues,” commented Dr. Willhoft. “I am honored but also humbled by the day-to-day efforts of school employees across the state who work tirelessly toward improving student achievement.”

Through additional awards of merit, twenty-year and retiree awards, WASA also recognized the outstanding leadership and dedicated service of association members to WASA and the field of education. Complete list of awards.

The Washington Association of School Administrators is a statewide professional association representing nearly 1,100 members including superintendents, central office administrators and building principals. WASA is committed to leadership in providing equity and excellence in student learning, and leadership in developing competent, ethical and visionary leaders by providing member services, offering growth opportunities for leaders, and promoting community and legislative support for education.

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Ed. Note: 

Online references include

• WASA web site - www.wasa-oly.org

• Partnership for Learning – www.partnership4learning.org