Eligibility for Middle Level Natonal Award

  • Candidate must be an active assistant principal, assistant headmaster, or assistant leader of a virtual, public, or private middle level or high school from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity, or the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools. 
  • Those who apply for the middle level award must be at a school that meets the middle level definition. Middle level is defined as those containing some portion of grades 6 - 8. 
  • Candidate must have served as an assistant principal at one or more middle level or high schools for three or more completed and consecutive school years.
  • Candidate must complete the online NASSP National Assistant Principal of the Year application.
  • Candidate must be a member of NASSP and his or her state affiliate association at the time of selection and throughout his or her tenure as State Assistant Principal of the Year. For national finalists, these conditions must also be met at the time of national assistant principal of the year judging, when the national winner is announced, and during tenure.

Eligibility for High School Natonal Award

  • Candidate must be an active assistant principal, assistant headmaster, or assistant leader of a virtual, public, or private middle level or high school from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity, or the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools. 
  • Those who apply for the high school award must be at a school that meets the high school definition for their school. High school is defined as those containing some portion of grades 9 through 12.
  • Candidate must have served as an assistant principal at one or more middle level or high schools for three or more completed and consecutive school years.
  • Candidate must complete the online NASSP National Assistant Principal of the Year application.
  • Candidate must be a member of NASSP and his or her state affiliate association at the time of selection and throughout his or her tenure as State Assistant Principal of the Year. For national finalists, these conditions must also be met at the time of national assistant principal of the year judging, when the national winner is announced, and during tenure.

The Following are Not Eligible for the National Award

  • Previous national winners of the NASSP National Assistant Principal of the Year award are ineligible.
  • Current staff of the NASSP, current members of the NASSP Board of Directors and current NASSP State Executive Directors and their respective family members are ineligible.
  • Board members of NASSP are ineligible for consideration for one year after completion of their Board service.
  • Candidate must notify NASSP immediately of any change in his or her status as an assistant principal. Failure to notify NASSP of a change could jeopardize a candidate's eligibility for the national award.