The tornado that swept through Oklahoma on May 20 tragically affected many Oklahomans, including members of AFSA Local 79. Both AFSA and AFSA Local 1, the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA), continue to hold everyone in thoughts and prayers. AFSA and CSA have each sent a $1,500 donation to help with the recovery efforts. While this will not reverse [...]

AFSA Local 1 and the NYC Department of Education have reached an agreement on APPR. Here is President Diann Woodard’s statement.

School Leadership Program Grants support initiatives that address the leadership needs of the New York City Department of Education school leaders. The Executive Leadership Institute is a sub-contractor that offers program development and strategic support to principals and aspiring principals. The program provides school leaders hands-on relevant training and meaningful workshops that give real time feedback on observations and useful [...]

Yesterday, the U.S. Senate failed to pass common sense legislation to make our communities and schools safer, even though 90 percent of Americans supported this proposal. As the leaders of our nation’s schools, it is a sad day when the NRA and gun lobbyists win over the American people’s safety and profit is put before life. We have faced a [...]

Following President Obama’s first State of the Union address of his second term, AFSA President Diann Woodard released the following statement.

The application for the 2013 AFSA Scholarship, which provides $2,500 toward college tuition is now available. Applications must be completely filled out and received by the AFSA National Office no later than March 29, 2013.

When Senator Harkin retires at the close of the 113th Congress the Senate will lose a true champion for workers’ rights and education.

As a passionate advocate for improving public education and health care access, and as a staunch supporter of working families and their retirement security, Senator Harkin will forever be recognized for what he accomplished throughout his four decades of distinguished service.

As a daughter of a union worker, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis fought tirelessly to protect, preserve and strengthen workers’ rights. She refused to allow strained state and local budgets to serve as an excuse for attacking public employees’ collective bargaining rights, their benefits, and their retirement security.

As a product of public schools, Secretary Solis never forgot the importance of providing all children with equal access to a high quality education, understanding that education is the key to our nation’s future prosperity. She recognized that strong leadership is a critical element to a successful school and that school leaders must be fully supported in their efforts to implement policies in the reform movement.

It was Ronald Reagan who once said, “There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.”

What is right and necessary for the nation now is to continue to teach tolerance to our children who live in an ever changing and diverse society. An armed security guard is no match for a community that works to accept everyone and gives them purpose.

AFSA stands behind its plea to the president to create a National Task Force on School Safety, so that we may join together to examine best practices and help school leaders to continue to open their doors to all across the country each day.

President Woodard sends a letter to the president saying gun control and mental health policy “may inspire more divisiveness than solutions.”