Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals
AAESP serves elementary, middle school, and K-12 administrators as well as curriculum directors, university professors, and a variety of other educational leaders around the State of Alaska.
What does AAESP do?
AAESP is a professional association that represents principals at the federal, state and local level to encourage legislation and regulations which strengthen American education.
AAESP provides the opportunity for principals to attend the Alaskan Fall Principals' Conference where nationally recognized speakers are keynoting and provides the opportunity to brainstorm with other principals from around the state to help determine policy, goals, and educational priorities for the year.
AAESP encourages participation in the National Leaders Conference, Alaska Legislative Fly-in, attendance at other in-services and the NAESP National Convention & Exposition.
2022-2023
Membership & Contact Information
Email or call Executive Director, Jennifer Schmitz @
akelementaryprincipals@gmail.com or (907) 223-1742
AND/OR
If you would like to join AAESP for this school year, you can do so at the following link: AAESP MEMBERSHIP FORM
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CONGRATULATIONS to Alaska's 2022 National Distinguished Principal,
Denise Kelly!
Denise is the proud principal at Sterling Elementary in Sterling, Alaska.
Denise Kelly was nominated and selected by her fellow principals through a statewide search process conducted by the Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals.
Kelly graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1998, she then added a Master’s Degree in Education Administration and Supervision from the University of Phoenix and later also received a Graduate Certificate in Restorative Practices from the International Institute of Restorative Practices in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Denise began her administrative career as an interim principal at Kilohana Elementary School in Kaunakakai, Hawaii in 2009 and after moving to Alaska in 2014 started her career in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District at Sterling Elementary. She is currently in her eighth year as the principal at Sterling Elementary. Denise will be honored at an event in Washington DC this fall.
CONGRATULATIONS PRINICPAL KELLY!!
If you would like to nominate an outstanding Alaskan administrator for this award, please email us at the link below!
Who is AAESP?
YOU ARE! Those dedicated individuals working and supporting education in the State of Alaska.
There is an executive board elected to serve AAESP. Each person on the board is here to help support our mission and to support individual leaders around the state.
AAESP PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Lori Ruckdashel
Chinook Elementary School
3131 W 88th Ave.
Anchorage, AK 99502
Phone: (907) 301-3413
SECRETARY
Jenna Fabian
Nikiski Northstar Elementary
45600 Holt Lamplight Rd.
Nikiski, AK 99635
Phone (907) 776-2600
TREASURER
Linson Thompson
Sand Lake Elementary
7500 Jewel Lake Rd.
Anchorage, AK 99502
Phone: (907) 632-2161
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
Heather Jones
Trailside Elementary
5151 Abbott Rd
Anchorage, AK 99507
Phone: (406) 360-0674
REGION REPRESENTATIVE
Heather Conn
Rae. C. Stedman Elementary
PO Box 289
Petersburg, AK 99833
Phone (907) 305-0540
REGION REPRESENTATIVE
Tracy Bell
June Nelson Elementary
PO Box 264
Kotzebue, Alaska 99752
Phone: (907) 442-1877
NAESP Summer Conference-2023
July 10-12, 2023 in National Harbor, Maryland
We hope that you will plan to join principals from around the country in National Harbor in 2023.
The NAESP Conference is always full of quality professional development and time for collaboration.
Watch here for registration information!!
OUR AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS
Working in partnership to provide the best possible support to education administrators in Alaska.
Being a member of AAESP also means you are a member of these two great organizations. This gives us a stronger and more unified voice at both the state and local levels.
Alaska Council of School Administrators
As a non-profit, tax exempt corporation established in 1973, the Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA) was created to serve as an umbrella for four of Alaska’s premier educational leadership organizations.
ACSA’s unifying purpose is to support educational leaders through professional forums, provide a voice that champions possibilities for all students and purposeful advocacy for public education. ACSA comprises professional educational leaders of Alaska’s schools and school systems.
National Association of Elementary School Prinicpals
The mission of NAESP Is to lead in the advocacy and support for elementary and middle level principals and other education leaders in their commitment for all children. NAESP advocates for the support principals need to be successful 21st century leaders—to achieve the highest results for children, families, and communities. And, we support the continual development of our members—principals in many different stages of their careers—through benefits, and awards.
All of our activities are designed to help principals and learning communities achieve desired results for every child.
AAESP Partners
A special thank you to our sponsors for your support of elementary principals in Alaska!
AAESP Monthly Newsletters
In case you missed one, here are the links to our monthly newsletters.
It is time to start thinking about nominations for the 2023 Alaska National Distinguished Principal!!
National Distinguished
Principal Information
Eligibility for nominees:
• is a member of NAESP prior to submitting their application in May;
• is an active principal of a school in which a commitment to excellence is clearly evident;
• has been an active principal for at least five years;
• will remain in active service in a position of school leadership during the school year in which he/she will serve as NDP;
• shows a strong commitment to the principalship through active membership in professional associations;
• is respected by students, colleagues, parents, and the community at large;
• assumes an active role in his/her community, distinguishing himself/herself as a leader in civic, religious, or humanitarian activities;
• shows strong educational leadership by setting high expectations for school staff and students; and
• maintains an orderly, purposeful learning environment.
ALL completed applications are due in FEBRUARY each year to the President -elect of AAESP.
Alaska's National Distinguished Principals
MEET SOME OF THE PAST NDP'S FROM ALASKA
Heather Jones
2021- Anchorage
Eric Pederson
2020- Kenai
Douglas Gray
2019- Anchorage
Michael Angaiak
2018- Fairbanks
Lisa Vrvilo
2017- Matsu
Kate LaPlaunt
2016- Fairbanks
Anita Stevens
2015- Anchorage
David Kingsland
2014- KPBSD
Cheryl Stickler
2013- Haines
Barbara Nagengast
2012- Anchorage
Tim Doran
2011- Fairbanks
Richard Toymil
2010- Anchorage
Leslie Campbell
2009- Fairbanks
Barbara Pile
2008- Fairbanks
Ron Fried
2007- Kodiak
Pete Swanson
2006- Kenai
Ed Scherer
2005- Anchorage
Mary Johnstone
2004- Anchorage
John Kito
2003- Anchorage
Kathie Cook
2002- Fairbanks
Dan Blanton
2001- Talkeetna
Karl Schleich
2000- Matsu
Davis Nufer
1999- Palmer
Rick Ladd
1998- Kenai
Sharon Meacham
1997- Anchorage
Kathy Benson
1996- Fairbanks
Arge Jeffery
1995- Anchorage
Linda Black
1994- Anchorage
Dave Dirkson
1993- Wrangell
Bill Breeden
1992- Anchorage
Diane Borgman
1991- Kenai
Jim Starry
1990- Anchorage
Lewis McLinn
1989- Kenai
Bett Fami
1988- Fairbanks
Jerry Schoenberger
1987- Yakatat
Darleen Trent
1986- Anchorage
Virginia Maesner
1985- Kenai
Robert Schell
1984- Sitka
Here are some links to connect and support you as a member of AAESP.
National Association of Elementary School Principals
Alaska Council of School Administrators
Alaska Staff Development Network
AAESP Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/akprincipals/
Alaska Principals' Conference Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/alaskaprincipalsconference/
National Distinguished Principal Info
https://www.naesp.org/national-distinguished-principals-program
AAESP
We LOVE to hear from our members! You can contact any one of us on the board. If you have membership questions, are looking to get more involved, or are just looking for a point of contact, you can send us an email and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
7259 Tyre Drive Anchorage, Alaska 99502
(907) 223-1742