Current Associate Principal of the Year
Past Associate Principals of the Year

Associate Principal of the Year Award

The Wisconsin Associate Principal of the Year program recognizes Associate Principals whose leadership has resulted in improved student learning, instructional collaboration, and a safe and positive school environment. Nominations are accepted from teachers, parents, principals, and others across Wisconsin. A committee representing teachers, superintendents, board members, parents, and the Department of Public Instruction reviews the applications and selects an AP of the year.

All state APOY winners will be invited to attend the National Principals Conference in July 2024. At the conference, state APOYs will engage with school leaders from across the country, gain unique recognition before a national audience, and benefit from complete access to NASSP’s premier professional development offerings. NASSP will cover the cost of hotel for up to four nights and registration to the conference for all designated 2023-24 state APOY winners. AWSA will provide $1,000 to help defray the cost of travel and other expenses. This check will be presented to you at the AP Conference, along with a $1,000 cash award for your school. 

*Please note, as this award is facilitated by the NASSP, it is for secondary associate principals only

Nominations have closed for 2023-24.


Application Process and Timeline

September 1, 2023 - October 11, 2023
AWSA will begin accepting nominations and sending out applications to our nominees. 

October 18, 2023
All applications are due and are sent to judges.

November 2023
The winner is announced. 

December 15, 2023
Winner’s application sent to the NASSP for the national award. 

January 24-26, 2024
Wisconsin Associate Principals Conference. 

April 4-8, 2024
State Assistant Principals of the Year celebration at the Trailblazing Leadership Weekend.

July 14-17, 2024
State Assistant Principals of the Year recognized at the National Principals Conference. 

Eligibility 

  • As this award is facilitated by NASSP, nominees must be a secondary school Associate Principal. 
  • Current staff of the NASSP, current members of the NASSP Board of Directors and current NASSP State Executive Directors and their respective family members are ineligible.
  • Board members of NASSP are ineligible for consideration for one year after completion of their Board service.
  • Candidate must notify NASSP immediately of any change in his or her status as an assistant principal. Failure to notify NASSP of a change could jeopardize a candidate's eligibility for the national award.
  • Candidate must be an active assistant principal, assistant headmaster, or assistant leader of a virtual, public, or private middle level or high school from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity, or the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools. Middle level and high schools are defined as those containing some portion of grades 6 through 12.
  • Candidate must have served as an assistant principal at one or more middle level or high schools for three or more consecutive school years.
  • Candidate must complete the online NASSP National Assistant Principal of the Year application.
  • Candidate must be a member of NASSP and his or her state affiliate association at the time of selection and throughout his or her tenure as State Assistant Principal of the Year. For national finalists, these conditions must also be met at the time of national assistant principal of the year judging, when the national winner is announced, and during tenure.
  • Previous national winners of the NASSP National Assistant Principal of the Year award are ineligible.