WSSDA Seeks a Director of Policy and Legal Services
The Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) is looking for a new director of policy and legal services. After 7 years of service, the current director, Abigail Westbrook, has taken a position with the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District effective June 3, 2024.
Recruitment Timeline
WSSDA’s preferred schedule for this position is as follows:
- May 1
Screening of applications starts - May 6
Notification to applicants selected for an interview - May 9-10
First round of interviews held virtually - May 13
Notification to applicants selected to advance to the finalists interview round - May 15
Finalist interviews held in-person
For more information about the position, please view the complete job description.
Take the Survey about WSSDA’s Future Executive Director
The board of directors of the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) is collecting ideas about what to look for in candidates seeking to become the next executive director of WSSDA. Through the end of April, this survey is open for school directors and others interested in the search to share their thoughts.
The survey is administered by KEES, an executive search firm retained by the WSSDA Board to assist in selecting the next executive director. The survey’s first question asks for the submitter’s contact information so that KEES can provide respondents with a copy of their Executive Director Opportunity Guide as soon as the position is open for applicants.
Only KEES will see the survey responses. All submissions will be kept confidential. The WSSDA Board will only see summary-level data. No answers will be linked to any individual respondent.
Questions about the survey may be directed to KEES Project Manager Megan Taylor via mtaylor@kees2success.com.
Call for Presenters at the 2024 WSSDA Annual Conference
School directors, board-superintendent teams, student leaders, educators, and subject-matter experts are all invited to submit breakout session proposals to share their experiences and voices with conference attendees. Not every presenter has to be an “expert” or have all the solutions, as long as what is presented is relevant and informative for school boards. WSSDA encourages submissions that represent a diverse range of voices, concepts, and subject matter to provide a full menu of options for conference attendees.
A Description, Not a Final Product
Presentation proposals submitted by May 31 are simply a description of a proposed session rather than a finished product with a complete slide deck. An outline and summary of what would be shared, plus indicating any co-presenters, are all that would be required at this time.
Would-be presenters are encouraged to review the conference theme and the various categories, or “strands,” that encompass some of the most important work of school boards. For more information and to access the submission form, visit the Call for Presenters webpage.
Perspective—WSSDA’s 2024 Conference Theme
The theme of WSSDA’s 2024 annual conference, “Perspective,” invites us to embark on a profound exploration of the many lenses through which we perceive the world. In the realm of education, where our communities (and our boards) encompass a wide array of voices, navigating perspectives is not merely a challenge but a necessity.
As we gather to delve into this theme, we’ll encounter the inevitable diversity of viewpoints. What happens when our perspectives diverge to the extent that they seem irreconcilable, or when they challenge our very moral compass? How do we find common ground and forge ahead with solutions that honor the validity of each perspective?
The essence of this theme lies in its call to embrace the richness of varied viewpoints. It beckons us to broaden our horizons, to step into the shoes of others, and to acknowledge the inherent value in every perspective, no matter how disparate it may seem from our own.
Throughout the conference, attendees will encounter the modifiers that precede the term “perspective” – the “student perspective,” the “parent perspective,” and so forth – recognizing the power and influence embedded within each. We’ll explore the actions that stem from differing perspectives, learning to appreciate the unique contributions they offer.
Let’s all embark on a journey of exploring perspectives, ready to challenge our assumptions, expand our horizons, and ultimately, foster a more inclusive and compassionate educational landscape.
Registration for the 2024 WSSDA Annual Conference will open in June. The call for presenters runs April 16 – May 31. The event will take place Nov. 21-23 in Spokane. For more information about the event, visit wssda.org/AC.
WSSDA Begins Search for New Executive Director
The Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) has begun looking for a successor to Tim Garchow, who will resign from the executive director position on June 30, 2024. Garchow has accepted a role with the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) as their new assistant executive director for member support.
“I can’t thank the WSSDA Board that hired me enough,” said Garchow. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity they gave me, for their support, and the support of successive WSSDA Boards whose leadership helped us grow WSSDA into what it is today.”
On March 6, WSSDA posted an RFQ for an executive search firm to help find Garchow’s successor. Since that time, eight applications were reviewed and a contract was awarded to a firm named KEES.
KEES is hitting the ground running. The goal is to have a new executive director in place by mid-summer so they are prepared for the busiest portion of WSSDA’s annual calendar, the fall. The opening will be posted to KEES’ website soon. Potential applicants can check the KEES search page for more information.