Leadership Development
WSSDA offers training programs, events and tools developed to maximize leadership and governance abilities for improved student learning. These services provide practical strategies and resources to help your board and superintendent function as a high-performing team. Because WSSDA is the only organization representing the…
Policy & Legal
WSSDA can help your district stay on track with the most current policies and legal developments. We offer a variety of services and publications to support effective school district governance. Free Member Services Staff members are available via telephone and email to provide timely…
Strategic Advocacy
Led by education policy professionals, WSSDA’s strategic advocacy branch exists to: WSSDA’s advocacy platform is comprised of legislative and permanent positions adopted at General Assembly that reflect the beliefs, values, and interests of Washington’s 1,477 school board members.To support all Washington school boards, WSSDA’s…
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…
Improving the school finance system in Washington state: Why, when, and how?
Written by David S. Knight, an associate professor of education finance and policy at the University of Washington. This article appeared in the Winter 2023 issue of WSSDA Direct. Visit wssda.org/direct to see all the latest issues of WSSDA’s newsmagazine. Our state’s K-12 school system provides excellent…
To Protect its Youth, a City Transforms Virtually Overnight
During the summer, most schools across the country stand silent at night while their students are on break. But in Tacoma Public Schools, when the sun went down, its schools became the favorite hangout spot of kids across the city. Last summer, every weeknight…
Scholarship, transformation, student voice, and more in the latest issue of WSSDA Direct
The feature stories of this issue focus on the public education finance system of Washington state and a remarkable paradigm shift in the community of Tacoma for safeguarding their youth with summer programming. Read all about it in our latest issue of WSSDA’s Direct…
Newest Members of the WSSDA Board of Directors
Four school directors began 2024 as the newest members of the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) Board of Directors. A fifth person was appointed later and a new president and president-elect were sworn in at the WSSDA Annual Conference. The elected board members…
WSSDA PLATFORM REVISION WINDOW OPEN MARCH 11 THROUGH APRIL 8
Every school board has the opportunity to propose a revision, retirement, or addition to WSSDA’s platform of 225 positions from March 11 through April 8, 2024. Boards will vote on whether or not to adopt proposals at WSSDA’s annual General Assembly in the fall….
Leadership Development Specialist Position Available at WSSDA
WSSDA is looking for somebody passionate about fostering leadership and driving positive developments in public education. They need to thrive in a collaborative environment and relish the opportunity to use their skills to benefit our locally elected school boards. In fact, school board experience…