Lydia Hawk Principal to Join State Principals’ Association

North Thurston S.D.’s Paula Quinn to lead professional development efforts

VANCOUVER — The Association of Washington School Principals announced today that North Thurston Principal Paula Quinn will become the Association’s Director of Professional Development. Quinn will also oversee the elementary board as part of her new responsibilities. 

The announcement was made at the Association’s spring board meeting in Vancouver. She will begin her new duties in September.

“Paula will make an excellent addition to our staff here at AWSP,” said Gary Kipp, AWSP executive director. “It is wonderful to have someone with as much administrative experience as Paula joining our team. Her work mentoring interns in the North Thurston School District will be particularly helpful to us as we try to reach out to younger members just starting out in their careers,” he said.

“We’ve been fortunate to have Paula’s leadership on our committees and boards over the years. We are excited to now have her in house working with us on ways to help principals improve their own leadership skills and abilities.”

Quinn has 32 years of experience in public education and has served as principal of Lydia Hawk Elementary in the North Thurston School District for the last seven. Prior to that, she served as an administrator and teacher in the Ephrata School District.

For the last four years, she has also served as a mentor to all new principals in North Thurston, something she has found personally and professionally rewarding. As Director of Professional Development for AWSP, Quinn will oversee all professional enrichment workshops, conferences and programs designed to enhance principal leadership.

“What I am most excited about is the opportunity to work with principals across the state,” said Quinn. “I was on either the elementary or AWSP boards for 17 of my 19 years as a principal.  I gained so much from those experiences, and I am a better principal because of it ,” she said.

“I also feel honored to succeed [current AWSP Professional Development Director] Terry Barber in this position. Terry has been my mentor throughout my administrative experiences.  He talked me into running for the ESPAW board 18 years ago.  Following him will be a great challenge and honor,” Quinn added.

“I love all of the people at the office and can’t imagine any group of people I would rather work with.”

In addition to her duties as principal, Quinn has also been active in the Association and its elementary board. For 16 of her 19 years as a principal, she has served in some capacity on the AWSP Board of Directors or on the board of the Elementary School Principals Association (ESPAW). In 2002 she served as president of ESPAW and in 2006, as president of AWSP.

Quinn earned her master’s degree in school administration from Central Washington University in Ellensburg and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Washington State University in Pullman.  

She and her husband, Mark, live in Olympia. They have three adult children and two grandchildren.

AWSP’s current director of professional development, Terry Barber, will retire from the position on Aug. 31, but will continue to work on special projects for the Association into the 2008-09 school year.  

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 3,500 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.