EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE

Good morning everyone, there is still room for our zoom webinar tomorrow, April 1st on "Successful Staffing Without Recruiting Risk" put on by Parker Howell of Porter Foster Rorick Attorneys (the link is below and on our website).  Registration for the two Career Fairs (one in Spokane 4/23/25 and one in Tacoma 4/30/25) is open for Recruiters and for Candidates.  And yes, you read that correctly, we are having both career fairs one month later this year at the end of April.  Here is the link of the Districts who have signed up for one or both of the Education Career Fairs 2025.  As you complete your budget preparations over the next period of time, please consider attending the fairs as it has always been a great time to meet the new teaching candidates who are looking for jobs and also those coming from other states who want to get to know your district better.  It is also a good time to encourage subbing in your district.

Nominations for President Elect have now closed and I will be sending out the candidates along with a link to vote sometime in the next two weeks. 

TITLE IX UPDATE:

The U.S. Department of Education released a "Dear Colleague" letter last week that states that the office of Civil Rights will enforce Title IX under the provisions of the 2020 Title IX Rule.  This means we look back to our state laws in 2020 related to Title IX.  Please check with your districts about related policies and procedures.

What's Happening Now:

• Registration for the following:
• Interviewing and Hiring Best Practices webinar April 1, 2025
• Washington Educator Career Fairs April 23 and 30 (Spokane and Tacoma) (OPEN NOW)
• Legislative Impacts on Bargaining, May 30, 2025

WSPA Retiree Membership:  As we approach the end of the school year, we want to extend a special invitation to our members who are retiring this year. Continuing your membership as a Retiree Member allows you to stay connected with the education community and continue benefiting from our resources and support.

We appreciate the years of dedication you have given to education and would be honored to have you remain a part of the WSPA Family. As a Retiree Member, you will enjoy exclusive benefits designed to support you in your next chapter including continued access to private online member directories, receipt of WSPA publications, invitations to regions meetings, member pricing on events, and participation in the WSPA legislative community.

Retiree Membership is $100/year. For WSPA members who have been continuous members for 5 or more years, we would like to extend the offer of complimentary membership for your first year.

For members who are interested, Retiree Membership applications will be available later this spring. If you are already a Retiree Member of WSPA, our membership team will be in touch later this spring to discuss your membership renewal.

To learn more, please visit our website. For questions about membership and transitioning your member status, please contact Kaley VonVolkli.

Thank you for your years of service to public education. We look forward to continuing our journey together.

Membership Renewal: As of today, we are up to 651 members, If you want to get a discount on any of the trainings we offer please join.  Please reach out to Kaley VonVolkli (kvonvolkli@wasa-oly.org) to make that happen.  Here is a reminder that we are contracting with WASA again to manage our membership roster and payments.  Membership for 2025 (September 1, 2025 - August 31, 2026) will begin July 1, 2025 when renewal notices will be sent to you and/or your District.

2025-26 Membership Renewals: 

Below is information on the renewal process. For questions, please contact Kaley VonVolkli. 

July 1, 2025: Renewal Notices sent to districts with a deadline of August 31 to submit any membership changes for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. 

 *District Membership: Must have at least 10 members renewing or joining for 2025-26 SY to retain District Membership. 

 *Retiring Members: WSPA offers a retiree membership at $100/year. Please contact Kaley VonVolkli to join as a Retired Member. Eligible retirees may receive first year of retiree membership complimentary. Those with 5+ years of membership are eligible. 

August 15, 2025: WSPA begins making the membership changes in our database. 

September 30, 2025: Invoices have gone out to districts for the 2024-25 SY.   Please make checks payable to:

WSPA's Address:

WSPA

PO BOX 14459

TUMWATER, WA 98511

Please contact Kaley VonVolkli at kvonvolkli@wasa-oly.org with membership and billing question(s). To add new members from your district, please complete a return a membership application to Kaley VonVolkli.

If you are retiring this year, please consider continuing your support of WSPA through a Retiree Membership at $100/year. To join as a Retiree member, please complete and return the membership application to Kaley VonVolkli.

WSPA Leadership 2024-25

Jennifer Koskovich, Director of HR, Federal Way Public Schools, WSPA President: jkoskovich@fwps.org
Melissa Kreuder,  ESD 112, Vancouver, WA: melissa.kreuder@esd112.org

Jane Stencel, Director of HR at East Valley SD Spokane; WSPA President 22-23; WSPA Professional Development Coordinator: stencelj@evsd.org 

Tara Santucci, Union Gap School District, WSPA Treasurer: tsantucci@uniongap.org

Traci Cox, Human Resource Coordinator, West Valley (Yakima) School District, WSPA Secretary: coxt@wvsd208.org

Darrell Heisler, Executive Director of WSPA: dheisler@wspa.net

Member Requests this week: 

#1:  We would like to know if there are districts who use an auto reply email during the hiring season/summer so that the HR Specialist/Recruitment can provide information to new and current employees. If so, can you please email us a copy of your auto reply.

Laurie Miner, lminer@cloverpark.k12.wa.us, 253-583-5096

#2:  I would like to see if any districts share the exit interview responses with their school board.

Sarah Foreman, Human Resources Coordinator, Hoquiam School District #28, sforeman@hoquiam.net, 360-538-8203

Funny of the week:  This morning, Siri said, “Don’t call me Shirley.” I accidentally left my phone in Airplane mode.

SAVE THE DATES!  THE TIME TO REGISTER IS NOW FOR THESE TRAININGS/EVENTS.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

April 1, 2025-Interviewing and Hiring Best Practices (ZW)

April 23, 2025-Washington Educator Career Fair-Spokane (IP)

April 30, 2025-Washington Educator Career Fair-Tacoma GTCC (IP)

May 30, 2025-Legislative Impacts on Bargaining (ZW)

Have a great week everyone!

Darrell Heisler

WSPA Executive Director