The importance of student voice in schools has been an undercurrent of the work of the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL) throughout its 65-year history. However, in recent years, AWSL has been working diligently to ensure a poignant yet powerful question that has guided our work and mission: “Have you asked your students yet?”
The leaves are changing, and the temperatures are dropping as we officially enter fall. Pumpkin spice everything, scarves, and flannels are becoming the norm as we transition formally into October.
October is full of many events, happenings, and holidays that are woven into our schools' fabric. Homecomings, spirit days, and Halloween festivities take shape and create a sense of camaraderie, connection, and even fun for students and the community.
2020 caused a seismic disruption to the way AWSL has served schools and students for decades. Our model of large gatherings of in-person events, camps, conferences, and retreats to be shifted, altered, and reimagined, not just for our survival as an organization, but to find new and creative ways to serve schools through a pandemic.
On Wednesday, January 20th, we witnessed the inauguration of a new president. Speeches, pageantry, fireworks, oaths, and traditions were on display as the symbolic exercise of welcoming a new president was on full display.
Of the noteworthy dignitaries and celebrities that were a part of the inauguration, maybe the most discussed was 22-year old Amanda Gorman. Amanda was the inauguration poet and read her poem, 'The Hill We Climb.' She was the youngest inauguration poet in our nation's poet. With poise, grace, power, and emotion, she captivated the country and the world as she invited us in to think, reflect, and look forward to what is possible.
The Association of Washington Student Leaders is a division of the Washington School Principals’ Education Foundation
Sponsored by the Association of Washington School Principals
