Message from Amy F. Sichel, Ph.D.
Candidate for AASA President-Elect
Superintendent
Abington School District
Abington, Pennsylvania
Balloting for AASA President-Elect is now open. Please take time to review the ballot
materials, to read the candidate information and to view the messages recorded by the
3 candidates during the National Conference on Education in Houston.
Go to http://aasa.org/content.aspx?id=22236
Thank you for the encouragement and support as I seek the office of
AASA president-elect. My 36-year career in the Abington School District, a diverse district
outside of Philadelphia, began as a counselor. I served in several administrative positions before
becoming a superintendent almost 12 years ago. I have been a member of AASA since 2001 and
a Governing Board member since 2006. In 2010, I was recognized as the Pennsylvania
Superintendent of the Year and served as president of PASA in 2010-11.
Advocacy is the central mission of AASA. Last September I was honored to represent AASA and
testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education. I urged Congress to
use research- and standards-based models for student achievement and assessment in
reauthorizing ESEA. Public schools CAN and DO produce high-achieving students. AASA must
promote legislative platforms that will continue the momentum of success for public education.
To sustain its effort as the premier advocate for public education, AASA must utilize a variety of
21st-century communication tools to foster a healthy and vibrant exchange of ideas that serve
to build collegiality. I envision creating an AASA electronic Action Center that provides members
with information and tools such as fact sheets, op-ed pieces, press releases, advocacy guides,
PowerPoint presentations, cable TV videos, and grassroots action kits that can be easily
customized and implemented by each state or region. The information and tools can be
distributed via podcasts, webinars, interactive webcasts, two-way virtual conferences,
mAdvocacy programs using smartphone technology, Facebook, and action-alert Tweets. As an
organization, AASA has the connections and the credibility to create a Tipping Point for quality
education. Together we can do it … and as your president-elect, I would be honored and proud
to lead this positive effort.