Grand Mound Elementary School received the Washington Schools on the Rise award!! It is an annual honor presented to schools by the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL), in partnership with the Washington School Principals’ Association (AWSP). It was created to recognize schools that exemplify powerful collaboration between students and adults in shaping school culture and leadership.
Purpose & Philosophy
This award shines a spotlight on schools where student voice is not just welcomed, but embedded. Where students and adults co-design, co-lead, and work together to nurture equitable, inclusive learning environments. The focus is on authentic partnerships, not tokenism.
What Criteria Are Used?
To be considered, a school must demonstrate:
Established systems where students and adults collaborate in leading the school culture
Tangible examples of joint leadership or co-design in initiatives and policies
Evidence of authentic engagement of multiple student voices and perspectives
Qualitative or quantitative data showing outcomes of this collaboration
Why It Matters
In education, we talk often about “student engagement” and “leadership,” but those words become meaningful when students are truly partners in shaping their school’s direction. This award recognizes schools that move beyond rhetoric. Schools that build systems of shared responsibility, equity, and respect. It holds up models that others can learn from.
By honoring these “rising” schools, AWSL and AWSP aim to encourage more schools across Washington to make student-adult collaboration foundational, not optional.