Vaughn Dosko Receives State Honor

Vaughn Dosko SmallThe Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals has selected Vaughn Dosko, Assistant Principal of Kenai Middle School, as the Alaska Assistant Principal of the Year for 2010-11. Dosko is now eligible for consideration as a candidate for the 2011 NASSP/Virco National Assistant Principal of the Year. In addition, Dosko will attend the Assistant Principal of the Year Forum and Awards Banquet in Washington, DC on March 30–April 2, 2011.

Dosko's interest and leadership in student assessment data led to the adoption of a Student Progress Monitoring Program. The program aids in identifying and helping struggling students. The performance of students at Kenai Middle School has progressed from below proficient to thriving in all categories in the past five years. These efforts have helped the school create a more personalized learning environment and school climate built upon supportive relationships. This model is now used throughout the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District.

Dosko cited his school's decision to adopt the concept of becoming a Professional Learning Community in 2008 as a turning point for his school. Teaching team members meet each week to discuss common assessments, curriculum alignment and analysis of student performance. The school took collaboration to another level by meeting with the administration of Kenai Central High School to develop a plan to assist in student transition for the 2009-10 school year. The process now includes seven schools.

Dosko's Principal, Paul Sorenson, describes him as "one of the most dedicated and creative administrators with whom I have had the opportunity to work." One KMS teacher said, "Vaughn personifies why we, as teachers, get up in the morning and drive to KMS," citing his "attitude of camaraderie and his collaborative leadership style that is uniquely his own." A community member said, "once Mr. Dosko decides on a goal, he pursues it with an unrelenting determination, seeking every possible avenue, regardless of conventionality, until he finds success."

Dosko received his Bachelor of Arts in Special Education and Elementary Education in 1995 from Minot State University and his Masters in Education, in Education Administration, from the University of Idaho in 2000. He is currently working on his Superintendent endorsement through UAA.

Dosko began his educational career as a Special Education teacher in the Mullan School District in 1996. He then served as principal at Tuluksak School from 2000-2006, before becoming assistant principal at Kenai Middle School in 2006. Dosko is a member of the Kenai Peninsula Administrators Association, the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Alaska Assistant Principal of the Year recognition is based on performance of outstanding leadership for providing high-quality learning opportunities for students. State honorees are selected by a statewide committee based on how well they have demonstrated leadership excellence in four areas of the Breaking Ranks Framework: Personal Excellence, Collaborative Leadership, Curriculum-Instruction-Assessment, and Personalization. In his role as assistant principal, Dosko has a broad variety of experiences from which he demonstrated achievement in each of the four theme areas.