Professional growth

• Workshops bringing school administrators together to learn about pertinent topics facing Iowa schools
  
• Leadership labs focusing on legal issues, educational leadership, decision making and improving student learning
  
• Annual August convention, featuring national and local experts, and attracting over 2,000 participants
  

Connections

• Mentor program for new administrators
  
• Networking opportunities with your colleagues
  

Legal services

• Legal assistance program — financial help for a member subject to adverse employment action
  
• Legal guidance from a full-time staff attorney on school law issues
  
• Review of handbook provisions
  

Legislative representation

• Your voice is heard through our lobbying efforts in the Iowa legislature and with Iowans in Congress
  

Information

• Monthly newsletter, SAI Report
  
• Legislative Briefs, a biweekly update while the General Assembly is in session
  

National presence
SAI maintains a close working relationship with these national organizations:

• National Association of Elementary School Principals
• National Association of Secondary School Principals
• American Association of School Administrators
  

Employment assistance

• Mediation assistance for members experiencing job-related conflicts
  
• Salary/fringe benefit information
  
• Review of individual contracts
  

Accessibility

• Consultation with professional staff who are attentive to members' needs and interests
  
• SAI Web site which can provide information seven days a week, 24 hours a day including:
  - calendar of events
  - direct e-mail links to staff
  - legislative platform and briefs
  - select articles from SAI Report

Membership Categories

SAI

• Active membership shall be restricted to administrators in a school district or other educational agency or institution who are designated as members of the administrative team. Only active members shall have the right to vote and hold office and to be eligible for all of the privileges and services of the Association;
• Associate membership shall be reserved for those who are involved in related educational activities but who are not eligible for active membership. Associate members shall have no voting privileges, nor shall they be eligible to serve as association officers. Associate members are entitled to attend meetings and to receive all publications but are entitled to no other privileges or services;
• Emeritus membership shall be reserved for those former members not currently employed in education and who are receiving compensation from a retirement system and/or members who have been certified as being disabled. Emeritus members shall have the same rights and privileges as do associate members;
• Aspiring administrator membership shall be extended to graduate students who are not eligible for active membership and who are currently enrolled in colleges and universities for the purpose of meeting licensure requirements in school administration, and to those individuals who are licensed as school administrators but who are not currently employed as school administrators. Aspiring administrator members are entitled to attend meetings and to receive all publications but are entitled to no other privileges or services. Aspiring members are allowed to attend the annual conference at no charge.

AASA

• Active membership is open to all persons who serve as a school system leader, or who are in an administrative position in a public or private school system, or in a regional, state or national education agency or association. Members in this category are eligible to vote, hold elected office and receive legal support from AASA.
• Associate membership is open to any person who is actively interested in, engaged in or associated with any phase of educational work and is not a school system leader. Members in this category are not eligible to vote, hold elected office or receive legal support from AASA.
• College professor membership is open to full-time professors of educational administration and/or supervision, who are not currently employed in full-time school administration. Members in this category are eligible to vote and hold elected office but are not eligible to receive legal support from AASA.

NAESP

• Active membership is the most popular membership category for practicing elementary and middle level principals, assistant principals, and related professional educators. A major benefit of Active membership is NAESP's Legal Benefits Program, which provides up to a million dollars in individual professional liability coverage and up to $10,000 for job-protection due process legal assistance.
• Institutional Active - Principals get Active membership and a duplicate set of NAESP regular professional publications* for their libraries or schools.
• NOTE: Practicing principals and assistant principals of U.S. schools are eligible only for the two active membership categories above.
• Associate - College/university professors or non-administrators receive Principal magazine and NAESP's regular professional publications* and other benefits. (Please note: The Associate category does not include legal benefits.) Excludes the right to hold office or vote.

NASSP

• Individual Member - Open to principals, assistant principals, and other administrators—building, district, and state. Individual members receive all NASSP benefits. Membership is owned by the individual, and is non-transferable.
• Institutional Member - Open to principals, assistant principals, and other administrators—building, district, and state. The assignee receives all benefits of Individual members. Membership is owned by the school, and is transferable. 
• Associate Member -  Open to department heads, teachers, graduate students, professors, and all non-administrators interested in middle level or high school administration. Associate members receive NASSP publications and reduced rates for convention and meetings. Do not receive legal or liability coverage. Pursuant to NASSP Bylaws, Associate members cannot vote or hold office. This membership is non-transferable.