South Colby Elementary School Principal Brian Pickard joined 200 elementary educators and leaders from across the country in the nation’s capital during the National Association of Elementary School Principals’ (NAESP) National Leaders Conference (NLC) held last month in Arlington, Virg.

Pickard advocated for new policies that will give principals the tools they need to function as effective school leaders, including new recommendations to support their implementation of teacher evaluations.

Pickard took the critical needs of Washington and South Kitsap schools directly to Congressional leaders, pressing for federal policies to help states and districts build the capacities of principals and advance school improvement.

Legislators were reminded of the need to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and advance early childhood legislation that will expand pre-kindergarten programs. They were asked to better support instructional leadership and provide programs for quality recruitment, preparation, and professional development for principals.

“K-6 schools provide the skills and content knowledge students need to succeed in life,” said Pickard. “Principals are calling on Congress to ensure that they have the appropriate resources and support they need to ensure that these schools are effective learning portals for 21st century opportunity. Our school communities and children are depending on us to make it happen.”

With support from NAESP staff, Pickard called on federal lawmakers to strengthen policies that will improve our nation’s education systems by providing principals with greater access to professional development and mentoring programs, encouraging early pre-kindergarten programs and P-3 alignment, and supporting them in implementing teacher evaluation systems.

Pickard also attended cutting-edge advocacy programming, including a panel discussion with Deborah Delisle, assistant secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education, and Chris Minnich, executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers.

For more information about NAESP’s advocacy program visit www.naesp.org/advocacy website or contact Brian Pickard at 360-443-3025.