WWW.FASA.NET FASA FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS SHAPING FLORIDA’S EDUCATIONAL FUTURE
FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINIS SHAPING FLORIDA’S EDUCATIONAL FUTURE AT A GLANCE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS (FASA) WHAT: F lorida’s second-largest education association supporting principals, assistant principals, superintendents, and district administrators through professional development and legislative advocacy WHERE: Tallahassee, Florida WEBSITE: www.fasa.net 1 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
STRATORS (FASA) The Florida Association of School Administrators approaches its 50th anniversary as one of the state’s most influential educational organizations, even as Florida’s schools face their most severe challenges in decades.With nearly 5,000 members,FASA has grown into Florida’s second largest education association, serving principals, assistant principals, superintendents, and district administrators across all 67 counties. Its reach extends from curriculum directors to transportation managers, creating a comprehensive network of educational leadership support. THE VOICE FOR THE STATE’S SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS EVOLVES ITS MISSION TO MEET UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES 2 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
“We have consistently had the mission to support administrators in providing a high-quality education to the students of Florida,” says Michele White, FASA’s executive director. The organization maintains an ambitious scope, serving approximately 3 million students statewide through its support of school leaders. “We strive to make sure that if we mean every student, then we mean every leader, and trying to make sure that they’re prepared and able to serve their teachers, their communities, and of course those students in that educational process.” BALANCING ADVOCACY AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FASA operates on two fundamental pillars: professional learning and legislative advocacy. While many education associations focus primarily on policy battles, FASA allocates most of its resources toward equipping administrators with practical knowledge and skills. “I would say most of our work is probably around professional learning and providing information to our members,” White notes. “We spend a significant amount of our efforts just making sure that they know what is happening.” This information dissemination proves essential as Florida’s educational policies shift rapidly, requiring administrators to adapt quickly to new requirements and initiatives. The association’s advocacy work remains strategically focused. FASA engages exclusively at the state level, working with legislators in Tallahassee rather than intervening in local district politics. “On the policy side, we are certainly engaged in the legislative world and in the capitol here in Tallahassee,” White explains.“We set certain priorities for the year with our board and our legislative committee to make sure that what is currently impacting our schools is what carries us forward.” Board members and legislative committees identify pain points affecting school leaders statewide, from funding formulas to certification requirements. Recent legislative priorities include addressing the state’s critical teacher shortage, and securing adequate funding for mental health services. FASA advocates competitive teacher salaries and multiyear contracts to improve retention rates. The organization also monitors proposed budget cuts that could eliminate funding for Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate programs, and career certification initiatives, all vital for student success. FROM COVID CRISIS TO VIRTUAL INNOVATION The pandemic forced educational organizations worldwide to reimagine their operations, but FASA emerged as an unexpected pioneer in virtual learning delivery.“FASA was actually one of the very 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS (FASA)
first organizations to pivot our annual conference to a virtual option,” White recalls. The swift adaptation positioned FASA as a resource for other associations struggling with similar transitions. “We spent a significant number of days, months, weeks helping other organizations around the country that are in education and supporting school leaders like us or just other organizations, associations within the state of Florida or that we have connections to on providing virtual education.” Florida’s aggressive push to reopen schools influenced FASA’s approach to digital programming. While maintaining some virtual offerings, the organization scaled back online initiatives as administrators returned to campus-based operations. The association’s flagship Discover conference now blends in-person networking with select virtual components, drawing thousands of administrators annually for professional development sessions that award continuing education credits. Collaborative professional learning at the FASA Discover Conference. 4 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
The hybrid model serves FASA’s geographically diverse membership effectively. Rural administrators from the Panhandle can access training without extensive travel, while urban leaders in Miami-Dade and Broward counties benefit from face-to-face collaboration. Virtual platforms also enable FASA to respond quickly to emerging issues, such as new state mandates or safety protocols.The organization maintains webinar series addressing immediate concerns like chronic absenteeism strategies and mental health interventions, ensuring administrators receive timely guidance regardless of location. SAFETY, ATTENDANCE, AND MENTAL HEALTH Florida’s school administrators face an interconnected web of challenges that demand immediate attention and long-term strategic planning. School safety remains paramount, particularly following the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy that resulted in $400 million in state funding for security improvements and mental health services. Yet implementation requires constant vigilance and adaptation. “School safety is always top of mind in trying to Passing of the gavel to 23-24 President John Spolski from Kyle Dresback. 5 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS (FASA)
COVID, we have seen this large surge of students continuing to be absent or continuing to be late for school,” White observes. “That has really increased dramatically over time. We’re trying to better define what chronic absenteeism is and making sure that there is support for our school leaders and our schools to help address that situation.” THE TEACHER PIPELINE CRISIS Florida’s teacher shortage has evolved from a manageable concern into a full-scale crisis affecting every district statewide. With over 4,000 unfilled positions and the state ranking 50th nationally in teacher pay, administrators face mounting pressure to staff classrooms while maintaining educational quality.The shortage forces difficult decisions about course offerings and student support services. “FASA as an organization has been talking about a teacher shortage or recruitment and retention for eight to 10 years,” White reveals.“I can recall a time when we were short 500 teachers in the state of Florida, and of course post COVID that number being in the thousands.” Current data shows the situation has deteriorated further, with 7,571 total vacancies including support staff positions midway through the school year. Retention strategies have become as crucial as recruitment efforts.“We know that the more teachers have a foundation in teaching practices and feel supported in their classrooms by administrators, by parents, and then certainly that classroom management of engagement of students, they’re more likely to stay,” White explains. “We have tried to prioritize and support our leaders in building cultures within their school so that those teachers are able to stay.” Alternative certification pathways now supply increasing numbers of educators. “More and more of our teachers are coming from what we would call an alternative pathway in that they are not going through the college of education at a university,” White notes.“Instead they’re majoring in something outside of that world but coming to the profession and then require additional supports from not only our school-based leaders, but also the district in making sure that we get them to certification.” make sure that our students and our staff are as safe as possible when they’re on our campuses,” White emphasizes.“We’re trying to make sure that we have appropriate people on campus to help support safe campuses. In Florida, a lot of that has been driven through some policy decisions and looking at some small minor legislative changes this year based off of legislation passed previously.” Chronic absenteeism presents an equally pressing concern. Florida ranks seventh nationally for student absences, with rates surging 54.5% since 2018.“Post 6 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
FUNDING PRESSURES AND PROGRAM PRIORITIES Educational funding in Florida faces perpetual strain, with administrators juggling competing demands for limited resources. Federal, state, and local tax dollars provide essential support, yet budget constraints force painful choices about which programs survive and which face elimination. “There is never enough funding in education,” White states bluntly.“I have not yet found a school district that says,‘Don’t worry, we’re fully funded this year. We can handle everything.’ There’s significant support that comes from really all three levels of government that we really, truly rely on, whether it’s federal dollars, definitely our state, and then our local tax dollars support our schools significantly.” The tension between arts education and workforce development highlights broader funding challenges. While policymakers emphasize career readiness and technical certifications, arts programs often struggle for resources.“There has been some priority around arts education over the last few years,” White acknowledges.“I wouldn’t say it has been the largest talk of how we’re preparing students as much as workforce development really has been.” State leaders have intensified their focus on practical skills training.“Between the governor, the legislature, the Department of Education and State Board of Education, there has been a significant increase in that focus on career readiness and certifications,” White explains. “We saw this spike over the last couple of decades where everyone was just being pushed for college, and we still need those trades and to really develop students so that they can be workforce ready.” Budget uncertainty compounds planning difficulties. “If we start cutting those programs, unfortunately, districts and school leaders are going to have to make choices on what programs they can actually offer and fund,” White warns. LEADERSHIP THROUGH LIFELONG LEARNING Building tomorrow’s educational leaders requires 7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS (FASA)
FASA Discover Conference attendees pose for a group photo. 8 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
more than traditional training programs. FASA recognizes that developing confident, capable administrators demands comprehensive support throughout their careers, from aspiring assistant principals to seasoned superintendents. “One of the things that I think is unique about me and my role as executive director is that I’m not a former educator where many of my state exec colleagues around the country are former educators,” White shares.“I have really spent most of my career in association management and the nonprofit world.” Her background in earning and maintaining the Certified Association Executive designation brings fresh perspectives to FASA’s operations. White embraces a continuous improvement philosophy. “My previous executive director at another organization once said, ‘If all we ever do is all we’ve ever done, then all we’ll ever get is all we’ve ever got,’” she recalls.“That has stuck with me in that I’m constantly trying to learn new things and Executive Director Michele White talks with student council members from across Florida about the legislative process. 9 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS (FASA)
we’ve already done, but to transform that pipeline of professional learning that needs to happen to support leaders at every level of their journey.” As FASA approaches its 50th year, the organization’s evolution mirrors Florida education’s transformation. From supporting a few hundred administrators to empowering nearly 5,000 leaders serving 3 million students, FASA remains essential to addressing the state’s educational challenges through sustained leadership development. figure out what we need to change to better support our members for today’s world.” FASA’s two-year vision focuses on strengthening the leadership pipeline.“While we will never have a true shortage of principals in the state because we won’t have a school without a principal, what I think right now we are somewhat struggling with are leaders that are confidently prepared for the role,” White observes.“What people will see in our organization is not just a continuation to build on the work that 10 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
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