A Matter of Principals is the podcast from AWSP, the Association of Washington School Principals. We exist to support principals and the principalship in the education of all students. We believe strong leaders create strong schools and strong students. Join us.
Episode 52: An Idea Is Not Implementation: Andrea Dixon-Hundredmark on Safety, Systems, and Student Success
Great leadership isn’t just about implementing new ideas. It’s about building systems that work—and having the courage to recognize when they don’t.
In this episode of A Matter of Principals, AWSP Deputy Director Jack Arend sits down with Andrea Dixon-Hundredmark, principal of the Weston campus and Director of Student Safety for Arlington Public Schools.
Andrea shares how her team at Weston is rethinking traditional approaches to education to better serve students whose needs and experiences don’t always fit conventional school structures. From innovative credit-recovery opportunities to removing everyday barriers to learning, the campus is creating meaningful opportunities for students to experience success.
The conversation also explores ANCHOR (Assessment, Needs, Collaboration, Help, and Ongoing Review), a developing district-level initiative designed to strengthen behavioral threat assessment practices. Working alongside Northwest ESD 189, Andrea and her colleagues are identifying gaps, building staff capacity, and creating more consistent systems that support students and school leaders.
Throughout the conversation, Andrea emphasizes the importance of relationships, collaborative problem-solving, and the difference between having a good idea and implementing it effectively.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
How the Weston campus is reimagining student success through flexible, responsive systems.
Why relationships and trust are foundational to effective school leadership.
How ANCHOR supports building-level behavioral threat assessment teams.
The importance of moving beyond training to coaching, implementation, and ongoing support.
Why identifying gaps in existing systems is an opportunity for growth.
How school leaders can approach challenging situations with curiosity rather than immediately turning to correction.
Andrea leaves listeners with a powerful reminder: Get curious before you get corrective.
Listen in for an inspiring conversation about leadership, innovation, school safety, and creating opportunities for every student to succeed.
Special Guest: Andrea Dixon-Hundredmark.
11 Oct 2026
Episode 51: Gary Kipp on Leadership, Learning, and the Framework That Shaped a State
In this special episode of A Matter of Principals, David Morrill sits down with former AWSP Executive Director Gary Kipp to explore the origins and evolution of the AWSP Leadership Framework.
As one of the key architects of the framework, Gary reflects on the educational shifts that shaped its development, including the move from classroom autonomy toward greater system alignment, the impact of No Child Left Behind, and the Race to the Top initiative that accelerated the adoption of performance-based evaluation systems.
Gary shares the story of how a small group of practitioners and researchers spent two years identifying the most important leadership responsibilities that influence student learning. Those original seven responsibilities ultimately became the foundation of the AWSP Leadership Framework used by principals and assistant principals across Washington State today.
The conversation also explores common misconceptions about the framework, including the tendency to view it as a checklist or evaluation tool rather than a planning and improvement framework. Gary discusses the interconnected nature of leadership, why no criterion exists in isolation, and how principals can use the framework proactively to improve culture, instruction, and student outcomes.
Whether you’re new to school leadership or have worked with the framework for years, this episode provides valuable context about its purpose, history, and enduring relevance.
4 Oct 2026
Episode 50: Kim Doepker & Heidi Fagerness on Leadership, Learning, and Finding Your People
In this episode of A Matter of Principals, AWSP Associate Director Gina Yonts sits down with two outstanding middle school leaders: Kim Doepker and Heidi Fagerness.
What unfolds is less an interview and more a conversation between colleagues who have become trusted thought partners through their involvement with AWSP and the Middle Level Leadership Committee.
Kim and Heidi reflect on their unique journeys into leadership, discuss the challenges and opportunities of middle school leadership, and share how collaboration with fellow principals has strengthened their work around MTSS, school improvement, data analysis, systems development, and culture-building.
Throughout the conversation, their complementary leadership styles become clear. Kim describes herself as a systems-focused leader who thrives on creating structures and clarity, while Heidi embraces her role as a culture-focused leader who prioritizes relationships, trust, and belonging.
Together, they explore what it means to be vulnerable as a leader, how professional networks accelerate growth, and why every principal needs people they can call when challenges arise.
The episode serves as a reminder that great leadership is not about having all the answers—it’s about creating the conditions for learning, growth, and collaboration among students, staff, and fellow leaders.
Special Guests: Heidi Fagerness and Kim Doepker.
Who has been a guest on A Matter of Principals
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Lisa Wellman
AWSP representative
Roz Thompson
Marc Yonts
Bernadette Ray
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5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100
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YouTube
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Engagement
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