Vodila Steps In as NASSP President

Cynthia Rudrud (left), 2004-05 NASSP president, passed the gavel to David Vodila, who will lead the Association for the next year, at the Closing General Session of the 2005 NASSP Convention.

The demands and expectations of the principalship are greater than ever," said David Vodila, principal of Red Lion (PA) Area High School. "Without the collegiality, protection, and resources of NASSP, a prospective member is on a lonely island surrounded by troubled seas. NASSP, more than any other professional organization, provides the connections and assistance vital to helping its members achieve personal success."

Vodila, who took over as NASSP president at the Closing General Session of the 2005 NASSP Convention, has been an administrator for 29 years and has a sense of humor about his work. "As I reflect on the beginning of my career as an administrator, I can come to one conclusion: I must have been the only applicant!"

However, Vodila also has a passion for the principalship and understands the challenges that his colleagues face: "While educational leaders support NCLB's goals of high student achievement, we must lobby with passion to correct the law's problems that, if unsolved, will undermine legislators' best intentions to improve the performance of the students in our schools," he said. "Especially troubling are the unrealistic expectations placed on our most vulnerable children — our special education students."

During Vodila's presidency, NASSP will continue its advocacy efforts to educate political leaders about the needs of school administrators. "The messages heard most often by building leaders are 'jump higher' and 'do more with less.' Our biggest challenge is procuring the resources that are required to provide for the needs of our students."

Vodila counts being named Pennsylvania's Principal of the Year in 1993 as one of the highlights of his career, and he served as president of the Pennsylvania Association of Secondary School Principals before it joined with the state elementary school principal association. "Leading NASSP is the fulfillment of a dream, and I will treasure the opportunity of promoting the principalship throughout my term," he said.

"My philosophy of education is simply this: We must protect and care for the children who have been placed under our care and provide the tools that they need to fulfill their promise and their dreams.

"As our association continues to offer its members unparalleled professional services," Vodila continued, "I am most excited about the opportunities and direction that we can provide in assisting principals and assistant principals in their important role as instructional leaders."