Chimacum Administrator Voted onto
Middle School Principals' Board

Whitney Meissner to assume AWMLP leadership role

OLYMPIA–The Association of Washington Middle Level Principals (AWMLP), the middle level component of the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP), announced today that Whitney Meissner, principal of Chimacum Middle/High School (Chimacum School District), will be its next vice president. Meissner was elected by a vote of middle school members statewide.

Meissner will serve as vice president for AWMLP for the 2010-11 school year, president-elect in 2011-12 and president in 2012-13.

“As the principal at a combined middle/high school, Whitney will bring a unique perspective to the AWMLP board,” says Don Rash, director of middle level programs for AWSP. “She is an experienced principal, a skilled leader, a passionate advocate and an outstanding educator.”

“The association and its members will benefit greatly from Whitney’s rich understanding of the issues that middle level administrators face,” adds Rash.
The 26-member middle level board meets quarterly and represents nearly 700 middle and junior high school principals and assistant principals from around the state. AWMLP is one of three grade-level boards that inform the work of the greater principals’ association. The executive committee includes the president, president-elect, past president, vice president, three-year AWSP representative, National Association of Secondary School Principals coordinator, regional director representative and the AWSP director of middle level programs.

Meissner has been an active member of both AWSP and its middle level board for several years. She currently serves as the Olympic Regional Director.

“My passion is kids, giving them a voice in their school and their learning,” says Meissner. “I am committed to bringing stronger leadership to the middle level in order to enhance the learning—both academic and social—for all adolescents.”

Meissner entered the principalship in 1999. She has served as principal of Chimacum Middle/High School since 2006. In addition to being a middle school principal, she is a middle school mom; her son will enter 6th grade this fall.
Meissner earned a doctorate in education from Seattle Pacific University. She also holds a Master of Education from Central Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington.

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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