American Association of School Administrators (AASA)

Description

Founded in 1865, the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders across America and in many other countries. These school system leaders are responsible for improving the quality of districts' educational systems and often represent high quality public education in general for the community. The mission of the American Association of School Administrators is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to the highest quality public education for all children.

Active Living and Healthy Eating Initiative

AASA has recently begun a new initiative with local school district leaders to encourage action for active living and healthy eating. As part of Leadership for Healthy Communities, AASA will use its education and dissemination capacities and its leadership networks to encourage the interest, commitment, and purposeful action of superintendents to improve local district policy and practice aimed at reducing childhood obesity. Through the planning period and the first year of our work in this area, AASA has:

Conducted focus groups, interviews, and surveys with school leaders to gauge their awareness and interest in the topic of healthy eating & active living;
Conducted a presentation at AASA's National Conference on Education^TM in February 2006 in San Diego, CA;
Updated the AASA website with links to model wellness policies and resources to assist with wellness policy development;
Created a state leadership network of 7 AASA state affiliates who are committed to improving healthy eating & active living in their states;
Conducted site visits at two school districts, whose achievements and programs will be highlighted in Healthy Living profiles and shared with other school leaders;
Disseminated the spring 2006 issue of School Governance & Leadership, an AASA occasional publication mailed to every school board president and superintendent in the country, with resources and information on healthy eating and active living; and
Collaborated with the National Association of Counties and the International City County Management Association to facilitate discussions between county, city, and school district officials.

In the coming year, AASA will seek ways to assist school districts with implementation of school wellness policies that have been developed as required by the federal Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act, will work with city and county officials to provide support to school districts and encourage collaboration around wellness between communities and schools. This will take place through targeted technical assistance to specific communities, and will include city and county leadership collaborating with school district leaders to create healthy schools and communities for students and their families to live and learn. In addition, AASA will continue to highlight school districts making strides and implementing innovative programs that help children lead healthier lives.

Contacting AASA

American Association of School Administrators
801 North Quincy Street
Suite 700
Arlington, VA 22203-1730
www.aasa.org

Rebecca Nelson
Project Director
Email: rnelson@aasa.org