AWSP Welcomes New General Manager at Cispus

Sue English steps into new management role at outdoor learning center

OLYMPIA—The Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) has promoted Sue English to general manager of Cispus Learning Center in Randle, Washington. AWSP recently created the position of general manager as part of a restructuring plan for its outdoor learning center staff. Cispus has officially been under English’s management since Jan. 1, 2009.

AWSP, Washington state’s professional association for elementary, middle and high school principals, operates two outdoor learning centers in Washington state. Cispus, located in Randle (about two hours south of Olympia) and Chewelah Peak Learning Center, located in Chewelah (about an hour north of Spokane), provide outdoor leadership and educational opportunities for elementary, middle and high school students, staff and administrators.

“Having been a part of the Cispus team for 19 years, I am pleased to be able to continue working with this staff and providing the best in outdoor learning opportunities,” says English, who has been the office manager at Cispus since 1992.

As general manager, English now oversees the curriculum development, coordination and maintenance of Cispus, which includes dining, meeting, housing and recreational facilities.

English is a natural fit for the position, according to Martin Fortin, Jr., AWSP’s director of outdoor learning centers. “Sue has been quietly directing many of these managerial responsibilities for years, so she has been able to make a very smooth and successful transition into her new role. I have the highest confidence in her abilities to meet the challenges ahead,” Fortin says.

“With Sue’s longstanding commitment to outdoor learning, Cispus continues to develop as the premier outdoor education center in Western Washington,” adds Gary Kipp, executive director of AWSP. “Under her management, we will enhance the programs that keep students and educators coming back year after year.”

AWSP first began its outdoor education programs in 1982 at the Cispus Learning Center. Cispus serves more than 16,000 students and adults annually. The learning center is home to AWSP’s student leadership program, including summer leadership camps, which serve thousands of students and advisers each year. In addition to the camps, a wide variety of groups utilize Cispus year-round, including teachers, sports teams, youth groups and college interns. More than one million guests have used the woods surrounding Cispus to better understand themselves and the natural environment.

To learn more about Cispus, visit AWSP’s Web site at www.awsp.org/Cispus.  

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.

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