Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals

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Our Mission   |    Statement of Ethics   |    About PELF   |    General Plan of Merger
Manual and Bylaws   |    Strategic Plan  

Our Mission


The mission of the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals is to:

  1. Assist members in fulfilling their role as instructional leaders and effective managers who promote the best educational program for all students.
  2. Give members an effective voice in the educational decision-making process at the local, state and federal levels.
  3. Improve members' working conditions so that their rights are protected, their job descriptions are reasonable, the importance of their instructional leadership role is recognized and their salaries and fringe benefits are equitable.

PAESSP is dedicated to:

  • Quality Education for all Students.
  • Strong Instructional Leadership for our Schools.
  • Administrators' Rights and Protections.
  • Strong Voice in Local, State and National Educational Policies.

Manual and Bylaws

Strategic Plan

Statement of Ethics for School Administrators

An educational administrator's professional behavior must conform to an ethical code. The code must be idealistic and at the same time practical, so that it can apply reasonably to all educational administrators. The administrator acknowledges that the schools belong to the public they serve for the purpose of providing educational opportunities to all. However, the administrator assumes responsibility for providing professional leadership in the school and community. This responsibility requires the administrator to maintain standards of exemplary professional conduct. It must be recognized that the administrator's actions will be viewed and appraised by the community, professional associates, and students. To these ends, the administrator subscribes to the following statements of standards.

The educational administrator:

  1. Makes the well-being of students the fundamental value in all decision making and actions.  
  2. Fulfills professional responsibilities with honesty and integrity.  
  3. Supports the principle of due process and protects the civil and human rights of all individuals.  
  4. Obeys local, state, and national laws.  
  5. Implements the governing board of education's policies and administrative rules and regulations.  
  6. Pursues appropriate measures to correct those laws, policies, and regulations that are not consistent with sound educational goals.  
  7. Avoids using positions for personal gain through political, social, religious, economic, or other influence.  
  8. Accepts academic degrees or professional certification only from duly accredited institutions.  
  9. Maintains the standards and seeks to improve the effectiveness of the profession through research and continuing professional development.  
  10. Honors all contracts until fulfillment, release, or dissolution mutually agreed upon by all parties to contract.

Adopted by the NAESP Board of Directors, September 29, 1976

Approved by the NASSP Board of Directors           
November 1973
Revised July 2001


About PELF

The Pennsylvania Educational Leadership Foundation (PELF) is the foundation of the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals (PAESSP).

On January 8, 1998, the Pennsylvania Educational Leadership Foundation (PELF) received approval from the Internal Revenue Service to operate as a public charity dedicated to educational pursuits under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code.

Incorporated in Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals, the Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors and the Executive Committee (formerly the Joint Management Committee).

The Foundation will support public education's role in our nation's and Pennsylvania's future. In particular, the Foundation will advance public education in the field of educational administration and teaching. Research and relevant professional development programs are offered to administrators throughout the Commonwealth. The Foundation will create programs to both identify and train candidates for educational administration positions who have a high potential for success.

As a charitable organization serving the public interest, the Foundation will solicit appropriate grants and tax deductible contributions to fund the activities of the Foundation.

Support Your Profession
Invest In Your Future

Your tax-deductible contribution to PELF benefits you, your colleagues and the profession of educational administration in at least five ways:

  1. Providing practitioner-driven research. 
  2. Providing scholarships to principal-selected deserving students. 
  3. Providing specific topic publications to the public and education community. 
  4. Defraying the costs of continuing professional development for educational leaders. 
  5. Promoting and enhancing the role and image of the principal.

William R. Hartman, Jr., D.Ed.
Executive Director, PAESSP
President, PELF

122 Valley Road
P.O. Box 39
Summerdale, PA 17093

(717) 732-4999 (T)
(717) 732-4890 (F)
[email protected]

PELF Scholarships

PELF to Offer Scholarships to Aspiring Principals in 2009

With a grant from the Horace Mann Companies, the Pennsylvania Educational Leadership Foundation (PELF), the foundation of the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals (PAESSP), will award scholarships of $75 to Pennsylvania principals to defray the cost of the Pennsylvania principal certification examination.

As the shortage of principals applying for positions continues to worsen, every effort must be made to encourage new leaders. The scholarships are indicative of the ongoing efforts by the foundation, PAESSP and Horace Mann to benefit Pennsylvania public education.

Individuals must be sponsored by a PAESSP member as being a "principal candidate in good standing." Candidates who receive the scholarships are required to either maintain their PAESSP membership or initiate membership in the PAESSP. Preference will be given to applicants who are current PAESSP members and to those who have participated in the Aspiring Principals’ programs.

The deadline for applications is Friday, August 21, 2009.

In order to qualify for a scholarship, applicants must be sponsored by a member principal. Recommending principals (sponsors) must complete the appropriate section of the application.

Contact Kathy Sheaffer in the PAESSP office at (717) 732-4999, ext. 17, or [email protected] for more information or a 2009 application.

Click here for an application.


Hersheys Fundraising Horace Mann Lincoln Investment Kades-Margous

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