WASA/AWSP Summer Conference 2025
June 22-24, 2025 | Spokane
"Leadership for a New Era"

The 2025 WASA/AWSP Summer Conference presents an opportunity to shine a light on the accomplishments of the 2024-25 school year and gain insights and ideas for the upcoming year. This year’s conference, “Leadership for a New Era” will focus on Fostering Collaborative Cultures, Technology Leadership in Education, Building Resilient Schools, Culturally Responsive Leadership, Leading with Impact, and Transformative Leadership.

The 43rd Summer Conference is a time to shine a light on the accomplishments of the 2024-25 school year and gain insights and ideas for the year ahead! 

Conference Dates

June 22–24, 2025  

Pre-conference sessions will occur June 21–22, 2025

Conference Theme

This year’s conference, “Leadership for a New Era” will focus on Fostering Collaborative Cultures, Technology Leadership in Education, Building Resilient Schools, Culturally Responsive Leadership, Leading with Impact, and Transformative Leadership.

Target Audience

Building Administrators
District Office Administrators

Registration

Members: $525
Lifetime Members: $350
Aspiring/Intern Member: $275
Non-Member: $795
Payment by Mastercard and Visa only.

REGISTER


Pre-Con Pricing is available in the drop down menu below.

Attending only a Pre-Conference?
Anyone wishing to attend a pre-con, but not the rest of the conference must email events@wsipc.org for special instructions.

  • School Administrator Government-to-Government  Relationships Training 

Saturday, June 21 | 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | $100

This workshop will meet the following requirements for Administrator  Recertification. House Bill 1426 (2022) mandates  in renewing an administrator certificate on or after July 1,  2023, continuing administrators must attend a 5-hour Government-  to-Government Relationships Training to focus on (each  workshop names below are one hour): 
• Introduction to Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State 
• Boarding Schools and Historical Trauma 
• Identifying Native Students in Public Schools 
• Agents of Change: School Leadership Behaviors & Dispositions 
• Creation of Government-to-Government Systems  

 

  • Teacher and Student Growth through Evaluation: Conversations for School Leaders

Saturday, June 21 & Sunday, June 22 | 9:00 a.m.4:00 p.m. | $200

Lunch provided.

School culture and trust are foundational to school improvement.  The teacher/supervisor relationship is key to supporting a culture  of inquiry and trust. The Final Revised Student Growth Goal rubrics  implemented state-wide in 2024-25 SY provide an opportunity  for leaders to refresh their own skills in inquiry and learning  focused conversations that build trust, recognize the skills and  talents of our educators, and foster reflection and growth for  practitioners AND students. This two-day teacher/supervisor  workshop involves active engagement and is a popular annual  event at AWSP. This year, the instructors will incorporate updated  tools to support the shift in student growth rubrics. 

 

  • Marzano Stage 1 | Instructional Framework Training 
    Saturday, June 21 & Sunday, June 22 | 9:00 a.m.4:00 p.m. | $200
    Lunch provided.

    This two-day training prepares evaluators of classroom teachers to  apply the newly revised Marzano TPEP Framework. Participants  will understand the research foundations of the framework and  gain foundational knowledge and skills for observing and evaluating  classroom instruction through the Marzano Framework. 

 

  • CEL Stage 1 | Instructional Framework Training 
    Saturday, June 21 & Sunday, June 22 |  9:00 a.m.4:00 p.m. | $200
    Lunch provided.

    This two-day overview of the UW/CEL Instructional Framework  and how it aligns with the state’s teacher evaluation system is  targeted to principals who are new to the process and have only  limited experience with CEL 5D+. The intended audience is principals,  assistant principals, and central office staff who evaluate  teachers under the TPEP evaluation system and are new to the  framework as an evaluator.  

 

  • Danielson Stage 1 | Instructional Framework Training 
    Saturday, June 21 & Sunday, June 22 | 9:00 a.m.4:00 p.m. | $200
    Lunch provided.

    This workshop is for principals, assistant principals, central office  staff in districts using the Danielson Instructional Framework.  Those who evaluate teachers are required to complete Stage 1  and Stage 2 Framework training. Using the Danielson Framework,  participants will increase their ability to support effective teaching  using the state criteria, comparing their evaluation scoring  with others for inter-rater reliability. 

 

  • Creating a Culture of Belonging through Collective Equity   
    Sunday, June 22 | 9:00 a.m.12:00 p.m. | $200* 
    *Pair with The Culture of Belonging: Fortifying School Cultures to Accelerate Student Learning  from  1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. for only $50 more!

    Presenter – Dr. Sonja Hollins-Alexander  
    Learning communities that leverage the Visible Learning research enacting collective teacher efficacy engage in dispositions that are powered to influence the interactions of the team. When these learning communities work together through a collectivist lens of shared accountability; educators begin to see how to convene around high expectations for learning across all dimensions of identities. These focused efforts mitigate patterns of disparities through the implementation of culturally fortifying practices creating inclusive and identity safe organizations. Such learning communities are empowered to discover how their collaborative actions and collective responsibility propel learning forward to transform schools into equitable learning environments.  When we re-imagine schools through a collectivist lens, we consider that so much about our current system is grounded in principles of individualism, yet many of the students who enter our classrooms are products of collectivist (rather than individualist) cultures (Hammond, 2015).  And, with this understanding, the adults in the learning community fully engage in practicing and modeling collaborative partnerships where instead of only working together, we Come Together to enact transformative culturally fortifying practices. In this session, participants will engage with one of the co-authors of the publication Collective Equity, who will facilitate opportunities of learning that generate personal, relational and professional awareness of fortifying practices that create cultures of belonging and transform learning communities, when done as a Collective. 

 

  • Time-Starved School Leader: 6 Action Steps to Move from Surviving to Thriving 
    Sunday, June 22 | 9:00 a.m.12:00 p.m. | $200  

    Presenter – Dr. Nick Davies  
    The role of a school leader is at a critical point. The turnover rate among school leaders is increasing, and the expectations for the job continue to rise. There are not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything while maintaining any semblance of a personal life. This presentation covers two main aspects of being a 'time-starved school leader.' First, how do school leaders get everything done in a reasonable amount of time? Second, how do school leaders find balance or a fit that will allow them to stay in the job for the long run? It covers both the big picture ideas, such as setting priorities as a school leader, and the small detail ideas, like how to carve out time for lunch! Attendees will leave with six action steps they can use in their buildings and lives immediately. These practices, proven effective by hundreds of school leaders around the country, help school leaders work fewer hours while getting more done and bring a renewed sense of purpose to their work. It is time to move from surviving to thriving! 

 

  • The Culture of Belonging: Fortifying School Cultures to Accelerate Student Learning

Sunday, June 22 | 1:00 p.m.4:00 p.m. | $200 *
**Pair with Creating a Culture of Belonging through Collective Equity from 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. for only $50 more!

Presenter – Dr. Sonja Hollins-Alexander  
Explore the concept of Mindframes for Belonging, Identities and Equity (Law, et. al., 2024) as powerful drivers for creating fortifying school cultures that accelerate student learning, foster a sense of belonging, honor dimensions of identities, and promote educational equity. Mindframes refer to the underlying beliefs and attitudes that shape educators’ perceptions, decisions, and actions in learning communities. Harnessing the power of these Mindframes is not just about improving education--it's about fostering an environment where every student feels valued, validated, cared for, and able to learn within psychologically safe environments. These 10 Mindframes are backed by extensive education research supported by Professor John Hattie’s Visible Learning influences that accelerate or hijack thinking and learning in schools and classroom communities. In this session, participants will engage with one of the co-authors of the publication Mindframes for Belonging, Identities and Equity in a process of self-reflection, review of powerful vignettes and delve into exploring practical culturally fortifying practices, while becoming aware of core principles that foster a more inclusive and supportive school culture that accelerates student learning. 

  • Leading Lasting Change: Empowering Leaders to Navigate Transformation 
    Sunday, June 22 | 9:00 a.m.4:00 p.m. | $250 

    Presenter – Dr. Dana Anderson and Lindsay Grams  
    Change is inevitable in education, but effective change isn’t accidental—it’s intentional. As school and district leaders, you’ve faced the challenges of guiding your teams through complex transitions, often relying on experience and intuition. But what if you could transform your approach with a proven framework designed to ensure success? 

    In this engaging session, we’ll explore the Why, the What, and the How of change management, grounded in the research-based Prosci model. Learn how to lead with confidence, inspire your teams, and create the conditions for meaningful, lasting change. Discover how to align vision with action, manage resistance, and empower stakeholders to own the transformation process. 

    Whether you're tackling a new initiative, navigating system-wide change, or simply seeking tools to enhance your leadership capacity, this session is for you. Join us to gain practical strategies, reflect on your leadership journey, and leave equipped to turn challenges into opportunities for growth and success. 

Conference Terms and Conditions

Read Here

Clock Hours

Complimentary Washington clock hours will be available. Forms will be distributed after brunch on Tuesday.

Cancellations

A $100 administrative fee applies to all cancellations submitted by June 2, 2025. 
No refunds after June 2, 2025. 
No Show = No Refund.

All cancellations made after 5 p.m. on Friday, June 2 will be charged the full amount.

In lieu of cancellation, substitutions will be accepted up until 24-hours in advance of the first day of each event. No refunds will be offered after June 2, 2025. No show attendance will not receive a refund.

Contact the WSIPC Events Team at events@wsipc.org for assistance with substitutions or cancellations.

Presenter Notifications

Notifications will be delivered via email the week of February 15, 2025.

Presenter Registration

Presenters are encouraged to register and participate in the conference; however, presenters coming solely to present their session do not need to register. Regretfully, due to budget restrictions, we are not able to offer compensation to our presenters.

Location: Spokane Convention Center

We’re holding the conference in the new section of the Spokane Convention Center.
The convention center is located at 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, WA 99201.

Schedule

Sunday, June 22  3:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. 
 Monday, June 23  8:00 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
 Tuesday, June 24  8:00–11:30 a.m.

Pre-Conference Schedule

 Saturday, June 21
 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
 Sunday, June 22  9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. & 1:00–4:00 p.m.*

*Half-day and full-day sessions options available

Meals Included

Sunday:       Dinner
Monday:     Continental Breakfast in Exhibit Hall
                   Lunch
Tuesday:     Brunch

Full-day Pre-conference sessions include lunch

Exhibitor Information

Interested in exhibiting at the 2025 Summer Conference?

Register Here

We have several booth options available with prices starting at $999. This year, we also have several sponsorship packages available that include a complimentary exhibit booth. These can be purchased during registration.
For more information, please contact Kaley VonVolkli. Registration closes on May 16, 2025.

EXHIBIT SCHEDULE

Sunday, June 22
12:00–3:00 p.m.                          Exhibitor Move-in
3:00–6:00 p.m.                            Exhibits Grand Opening 1 hour early this year!

Monday, June 23
7:00–8:00 a.m.                            Exhibits and Continental Breakfast
9:30–10:00 a.m.                          Exhibits and Refreshment Break                                                                                        
10:50-11:15 a.m.                         Exhibits Added time
1:30–1:50 p.m.                            Exhibits and Refreshment Break
2:45–3:45 p.m.                            Exhibits, Ice Cream Social, and Prize Drawing Extended time
4:00–5:30 p.m.                            Exhibitor Teardown
Exhibits will not be open on Tuesday, June 24.

Questions

Registration Questions: events@wsipc.org
Housing Questions: Kim at kim@awsp.org
Exhibitor Questions: Kaley at kvonvolkli@wasa-oly.org
Concurrent Sessions: Jack at jack@awsp.org
Other Questions: Ryan at rhickerson@wasa-oly.org

Keynote Speakers

Sunday Banquet Keynote


Dr. Taryn Marie Stejskal   
Founder and Chief Resilience Officer of the Resilience Leadership Institute (RLI) and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author

Sunday Banquet Keynote — Resilient Leadership: Thriving in the New Era of Uncertainty
Author of the book, The Five Practices of Highly Resilient People: Why some flourish when others fold. After conducting two decades of original research on resilience, Dr. Taryn Marie developed the empirically based framework, The Five Practices of Highly Resilient People and believes that resilience is the key to individual, teams, and organizational growth and acceleration across the globe. Her mission is to positively impact the lives of 1 billion people through the practices of resilience. Prior to founding RLI, she served as the Head of Executive Leadership Development & Talent Strategy at Nike, as well as Head of Global Leadership Development at Cigna.
 
Global Gurus has recognized Dr. Taryn Marie as a Top 30 Thinker in Leadership, she is a Marshall Goldsmith Top 100 Global Executive Coach, and she was a finalist for the Tony Hsieh Award, named for the former CEO of Zappos, awarded to those who are leading human capital innovation. Her work has been featured by Fox and NBC News, Bloomberg Business, Thrive Global, and Forbes. Her TEDx talk entitled “How Resilience Breaks Us Out of Our Vulnerability Cage” has been viewed over 1 million times!
 
Dr. Taryn Marie earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, along with master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park, and completed pre- and postdoctoral fellowships in neuropsychology at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. She is the host of the top 1% acclaimed podcast Flourish or Fold: Stories of Resilience, where well-known people tell their lesser well-known story of facing challenge to remind us that adversity is a necessary ingredient in life.
 
She is honored to be an ambassador for The African Community and Conservation Foundation, along with serving as a sought-after trusted advisor and board member, to amplify resilience, engagement, and talent strategy. She also serves as Chief Product Officer and Chief Happiness Officer for Wicked Happy, a global aspirational apparel brand that promotes positivity and possibility through inspirational messages.

Monday Opening Keynote


Sarita Maybin  
Motivational speaker, Communication Expert and Author  
 
Monday Opening Keynote — If You Can't Say Something Nice, What Do You Say?
Sarita Maybin is a dynamic and seasoned speaker, known for empowering audiences with the skills to transform uncomfortable conversations into constructive communication. With a career spanning over two decades as an international speaker and communication expert, Sarita has shared her insights in all 50 states, 10 countries (including Iceland), and on the prestigious TEDx stage. Sarita blends real stories, practical solutions, and a relatable presence that engages her audience and inspires positive action. Her universal message has resonated with a diverse range of clients, including American Dental Association, Million Dollar Round Table, National Conference of State Legislators, Department of the Navy, and the University of California. Leveraging her background as a former university dean of students with a master’s degree in counseling, Sarita shares strategies for enhanced collaboration and communication.  

As a “military brat” who thrived in a life of constant change, she brings a unique perspective, emphasizing that the power of communication is not just in what you say, but how you say it. Sarita is also an author, having written the book on how to respond to the question: "If You Can’t Say Something Nice, What DO You Say?" Her commitment to fostering positive dialogue continues with her latest book, "Say What You Mean in a Nice Way," where she explores the nuances of compassionate communication in our ever-changing high-tech times.
 

Tuesday Brunch Keynote


Jeff Butler  
Motivational speaker and Author 

Tuesday Brunch Keynote — The Authentic Workplace and The Key To The New You
Jeff Butler is an author and workplace strategist who explores human behavior within the working world. His experience spans over 40 industries in four continents on how diverse cultures and employees interact with each other. He studies common threads of behavior in industries such as IT professionals, underground utility workers, police officers to clothing retail chains. In addition, Jeff has also worked with companies like Google, Amazon, John Deere, and Coldwell Banker. As a researcher and practitioner, he also runs a consulting company and a tech company, TrinityFix, where he is able to test his ideas in different workplace environments. His ideas have made it to TEDx twice, appearing in dozens of media outlets including two books on human behavior: The Authentic Workplace and The Key to the New You. Currently, he lives in Dallas, Texas as an out-of-place Californian.

Housing

Book your group rate hotel room now for the Leadership for a New Era Summer Conference! Once registering for the conference, you will receive housing links.

Marriott Properties

Rate:                   $199 USD per night
Start Date:          Friday, June 20, 2025
End Date:           Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Last Day to Book:    Wednesday, May 28, 2025
 
Hotels under the Marriott name accepting reservations: 
  • The Davenport Grand, Autograph Collection
  • The Historic Davenport, Autograph Collection
  • The Davenport Tower, Autograph Collection

For housing modifications please call the Davenport Housing Department directly at 509.598.4554 (9 am-4 pm) or email reservations@thedavenporthotel.com.


The Centennial Property

Rate:                  $221 USD per night
Start Date:         Friday, Jun 20, 2025
End Date:          Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Last Day to Book:     Wednesday, May 28, 2025

 


DoubleTree by Hilton

Rates:                $179-$209
Start Date:         Friday, Jun 20, 2025
End Date:          Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Last Day to Book: Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Ruby River Hotel

Rates:            $126-$306
Start Date:     Friday, June 20, 2025
End Date:      Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Last Day to Book: Wednesday, May 28, 2025


If you need assistance finding housing or have any questions or concerns regarding reservations, don't hesitate to contact Kim at kim@awsp.org or call the Association of Washington School Principals office at 800.562.6100. Our office is available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday. 


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