The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) is a professional organization of educational leaders whose mission is to “support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to the highest quality public education for all children.”1 With over half of their members serving as superintendents and more than one third administrators,2 AASA focuses on leadership development through conferences, institutes, scholarships, and online courses and seminars. They also are advocates for academic achievements in school districts and for national education policies for public education.
Founded in 1865, AASA has a network of Affiliated State Associations that support the national level. An elected Governing Board and Executive committee lead the AASA with additional leadership from appointed Advisory Committees.3 One long term program of the AASA is the study of the American school superintendent which has been conducted every ten years since 1923. The most recent report, “American School Superintendent: 2010 Decennial Study” was released in December of 2010.4
An award-winning resource published by AASA is their monthly magazine, School Administrator. The magazine gives a “big-picture” perspective of topics in education and leadership as well as information on instructional materials and educational resources. The School Administrator September 2011 issue won the Award of Excellence of the National School Public Relations Association's 2012 Publications and Electronic Media Contest in the magazine category.5
In 1949 the Educational Administration Scholarship Award was created to assist graduate students in school administration studies. That scholarship continues along with seven national AASA awards such as the National Superintendent of the Year award, the American Education Award for citizens, the Architectural Awards for facility projects, and the Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award for members who have advanced women and minorities in education.6
The AASA also awards an Urgent Need Mini-Grant to school districts with emergency needs in the health, mental health, education, or social service areas for children and their families. As further assistance for school districts, in 2009 the AASA established the School Solutions Center as a resource for saving money while improving classrooms, employee benefits, and student achievements.7 This list of vendors provides an opportunity to leverage national contacts for savings in individual school districts.
The advocacy program, Educating the Total Child, was advanced in the 2011 AASA Legislative Agenda. Recognizing how poverty and lack of early childhood education affects the development of “fundamental, lifelong learning skills,” AASA is asking that federal policies focus on low-income and minority children in order to help close the achievement gap in education.8 They also promote Children's Programs such as Healthy School Environments and Ready by 21.
- 1. “10-Year Study on the American School Superintendent Released.” American Association of School Administrators. < http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=17280 > 3 Dec. 2012.
- 2. “AASA Partners.” American Association of School Administrators. < http://www.aasa.org/AASAPartners.aspx > 31 March 2013.
- 3. “About AASA.” American Association of School Administrators. < http://www.aasa.org/About.aspx > 3 Dec. 2012.
- 4. Op.cit., “10-Year Study on the American School Superintendent Released.”
- 5. “School Administrator.” American Association of School Administrators. < http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=1896 > 3 Dec. 2012.
- 6. “Awards and Scholarships.” American Association of School Administrators. < http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=5618 > 3 Dec. 2012.
- 7. “AASA School Solutions Center.” American Association of School Adminstrators. < http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=2422 > 31 March 2013.
- 8. “Educating the Total Child.” American Association of School Administrators. < http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=118 > 3 Dec. 2012.
