Washington Association of School Administrators News Release - Robert J. Handy Most Effective Administrators Award


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 7, 2005	CONTACT:	Amy Riggs, Communications Washington Association of School Administrators (800) 859-9272

EDUCATION LEADERS RECEIVE ROBERT J. HANDY MOST EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATOR AWARDS

Willapa Valley Junior/Senior High School Principal Rob Friese was honored in the small district category and Colville School District Superintendent Jack Adams received the award for mid-sized districts. YAKIMA, Washington - Today, the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) and the PEMCO Foundation recognized Rob Friese, secondary principal in the Willapa Valley School District, and Dr. Jack Adams, superintendent of the Colville School District, as recipients of the 2005 Robert J. Handy Most Effective Administrator Awards. Jim Menzies of the PEMCO Foundation presented the awards at the WASA Small Schools Conference in Yakima. A third administrator, for the large district category, will be recognized in April at WASA’s Superintendent Workshop in Seattle. Three awards are presented each year, based on district-size categories, with a $10,000 award equally divided by the winners. Approximately one-third of Washington’s school districts are represented in each category. The award can be used for personal or professional growth and/or to support and disseminate information about a successful school or district program. A peer committee selects the winners from nominations that detail how each nominee is taking part in actualizing the nine characteristics of high performing schools/districts as defined by research from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. “I am very honored and pleased to receive this award from WASA and PEMCO,” stated Willapa Valley Principal Rob Friese, upon receiving the award in the small district category. “It is really a tribute to the school and my staff more than to me. They are wonderful. They consistently do what is best for education and they really work hard for kids. The biggest honor I get is to work with people who are so strongly committed to their students.” Mr. Friese honors the value of open communication and has united staff, students, parents and the community in establishing goals and strategies that have a common focus based on shared values and beliefs. As a result, the school climate is extremely positive and the mutual respect and civility between students and staff is apparent. In support of his nomination, his merit was summed up in the statement, “Rob has the vision, integrity and skills for success in our chaotic educational environment. He is not afraid to tackle difficult situations and does so with warmth, humor, skill and genuine caring.” Superintendent Jack Adams, Colville School District, received the award in the mid-size district category. Dr. Adams has effectively redefined the district’s culture to focus on learning for all, students and adults, with the support of the staff and the community. Support for his nomination outlined how the district’s path to high student achievement and increased academic standards began with focused curriculum management and was supported by levy approval for quality learning materials. Dr. Adams has worked to sustain the vision by providing such necessary supports as ample time for collaboration, structured staff development, mentoring, instructional alignment and implementation of research-based strategies. In response to receiving the award, Dr. Adams commented, “Everyday I am proud to be working in education and getting paid for something I love doing. The past 33 years in education have been all about making the right decisions for all children, so each student reaches his/her fullest potential.” As stated in the nomination, Dr. Adams’ leadership will “impact the next generation and those who lead in our schools, state and community.” In its fourth year, the Robert J. Handy Most Effective Administrator Awards seek to recognize outstanding public school administrators in Washington state. Robert J. Handy, the awards’ namesake, founded the PEMCO Life Insurance Company. Handy was a Seattle schoolteacher during the Great Depression whose vision of providing low-cost loans to schoolteachers grew into what is now the School Employees Credit Union of Washington. The Washington Association of School Administrators is a statewide professional association representing nearly 1,100 members including superintendents, central office administrators and building principals. The PEMCO Foundation is an alliance of companies inclusive of PEMCO Insurance Company, the School Employees Credit Union of Washington and Evergreen Bank. # # # # # Ed. Note: Online references - PEMCO Web site - www.pemco.com Detailed descriptions of the nine characteristics - http://www.k12.wa.us/schoolimprovement/success.aspx