Last Updated on June 14, 2017, 7:48 PM | Published: June 14, 2017
So far, it’s been a productive year for John Marshall Principal Aspasia Carlson.
She was chosen Oklahoma Principal of the Year in March. If you are catching up with that news see our report.
Then, Monday, she was named one of only 10 people in the U.S. to receive a scholarship to attend an international women’s education conference in Brazil.
The 2017 Women Leading Education across Continents International Conference will explore social justice, equity, and advancement for women in K-12 and higher education.
“I’m just interested in networking with other female school leaders and talking about what obstacles they face in their respective countries,” Carlson told Free Press.
Reaching out
She told Free Press there would be a broad spectrum of women at the conference.
“There are going to be leaders from top performing countries and then leaders from countries where it’s just a huge challenge for them to be in the positions they’re in. So, it’s going to interesting,” said Carlson.
As is her usual practice, she started interacting with her students immediately upon learning of the scholarship. She started brainstorming ways they could benefit from her attendance at the conference.
“They were interested in doing some sort of Skyping with other girls in other countries, talking with them about the differences, encouraging them to continue their education,” said Carlson about how some of her students responded to the news.
The scholarships were given by the AASA, the national School Superintendents Association in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
More to come?
But this may well not be the pinnacle of her year.
July 8-11, she will go to Philadelphia for the National Association for Secondary School Principals, or NASSP, conference for principals of the year from every state.
There the finalists will be announced for National Principal of the Year. Finalists will then go to Washington, D.C. in September where the winner will be announced.
Founder, publisher, and editor of Oklahoma City Free Press. Brett continues to contribute reports and photography to this site as he runs the business.
