By: Steve Patterson
Submitted: 2010-09-03 06:13:14 | Word Count: 411
The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) was founded in 1865. AASA is the professional organization for more than 14,000 educational leaders across America and in many other countries. Its members are superintendents of public school systems, assistant and associate superintendents, principals, graduate students, and professors of educational administration, as well as others interested in educational leadership.
Purpose
AASA's mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to the highest quality public education for all children. The four major focus areas for AASA are:
Improving the condition of children and youth
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Preparing schools and school systems for the twenty-first century
Connecting schools and communities
Enhancing the quality and effectiveness of school leaders
The organization, with a staff of fifty, is one of elementary and secondary education's long-standing professional organizations.
Publications and Programs
AASA publishes a monthly magazine, The School Administrator, featuring articles and interviews on leadership, technology, and educational trends and issues. AASA's president, executive director, and guest columnist offer commentary in monthly columns. Its Internet site is a resource for administrators, graduate students, teachers, and members of the public seeking information about education in the news, policy and practice, legislation, and AASA activities.
Other publications include School Governance and Leadership, published for superintendents and school boards; the AASA Bulletin, a supplement to The School Administrator; and a variety of titles published in cooperation with Scarecrow Education.
The National Conference on Education, held annually, attracts more than 10,000 school system leaders, school board members, professors, and more than 350 exhibitors to its program sessions and exposition. Other conferences and seminars are held throughout the year for rural and suburban school system leaders, women administrators, and the officers and staff of AASA's chartered affiliates.
Governance
AASA is governed by an elected executive committee of twelve members, elected by the membership for three-year terms. The president appoints one member to the executive committee. The membership annually elects a president-elect, who serves a three-year sequence of one year as president-elect, then president, and immediate past president. The delegate assembly, comprising members from every state, meets annually to adopt resolutions that help determine the policy and action agendas for the association.
Membership
Active membership in AASA is open to anyone employed in school district administration; associate, college professor, graduate student, and retired memberships are also available. As of 2001 the total membership exceeded 14,000. Financial support comes from membership dues, publication sales, conference registrations and exhibits, sponsorships, and federal and private foundation funding for specific programs.
