Middle School Principals Elect Chehalis Administrator to National Liaison Position

Chehalis Assistant Principal Mary Lou Bissett tapped for statewide leadership role

OLYMPIA—The Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) and its middle level board announced today that Mary Lou Bissett, assistant principal, Chehalis Middle, will be the board’s next liaison to the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Bissett was elected by a vote of the middle level board members.

Bissett will become Washington state's NASSP coordinator for the Association of Washington Middle Level Principals (AWMLP) for a three-year term, beginning July 1, 2009.

In existence since 1916, NASSP is the preeminent organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals and aspiring school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. The mission of NASSP is to promote excellence in school leadership.

As NASSP coordinator, Bissett will serve as the official liaison between AWMLP, NASSP and NASSP's Region 7, representing Washington state's middle level principals and assistant principals at the regional meetings and the national business meeting. She will provide a significant voice from the ranks of building administrators in setting a direction for NASSP and advocating for educational policy changes at the national level.

“Mary Lou is such a passionate advocate for students and for the middle level,” said Don Rash, AWSP’s director of middle level programs. “She’s always been a strong board member, and we’re excited that she will be increasing her leadership role within the organization. Mary Lou’s insights and understanding of the challenges facing middle level administrators will be beneficial to her colleagues." 

Bissett has been an active member of both AWSP and its middle level board for several years. She is the former chair of the statewide Assistant Principals' Leadership Conference and currently serves as the Black Hills Regional Director to the AWMLP board.

"NASSP promotes excellence in school leadership and education. I'm honored to serve as the NASSP coordinator for AWSP. I'm looking forward to continued service on AWSP's middle level board and this exciting new opportunity," said Bissett.

Bissett has served as assistant principal of Chehalis Middle since 2003. Prior to that, she served as house facilitator at River Ridge High School (North Thurston Public Schools) as well as a teacher in both the Chehalis School District and the Wapato School District.

She earned a master’s degree in education from Central Washington University in 1990 and her principal’s certification from Pacific Lutheran University in 1996. Bissett also holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Western Washington University.

To learn more about the Association of Washington Middle Level Principals, visit the AWSP Web site at www.awsp.org. To learn more about the National Association of Secondary School Principals, visit the NASSP Web site at www.principals.org.

About the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP)
The Association of Washington School Principals is a professional association serving principals, assistant principals and principals in training. Formed in 1972, the Association now includes more than 3,400 members from public and private elementary, middle and high schools statewide. It is governed by a board of practicing principals composed of members drawn from three grade-specific boards representing the elementary, middle and high school levels. The mission of AWSP is to support principals and assistant principals and the principalship in the education of all students. For more information on the Association, visit the AWSP Web site at www.awsp.org.

# # #