When I was boarding the plane for the National Education Leadership Awards Conference, I had no idea what to expect. Upon arrival, I took a look at the conference schedule and saw very little “sit and get” and a lot of networking sessions. As a naturally introverted person, I was immediately concerned. However, that concern quickly evaporated when I started talking to the other award winners at the conference and realized I was going to learn more from these amazing administrators than I could at any sit-and-get conference.
The conversations that I shared with others were the true highlight of the conference. One of the first sessions pulled all of the Assistant Principals together in a room. We were asked to take an object with us that represented our leadership. I took a picture of my daughter. When I am making decisions at MHS, from discipline decisions to systemic decisions, I always think about what I would want for her. This helps guide my decision making around what is best for kids. It was amazing how many of us brought an object to represent ourselves as students or our own children as our motivation to improve our school buildings!
We had an opportunity to participate in a scavenger hunt around Washington, D.C., with a small group where we visited several parks and talked about our own leadership and what we could learn from historical American figures. It was a 93-degree day, so I also enjoyed soaking up the sun.
Another great session was a “Problem of Practice” session. Here we were asked to share a problem we are facing in our schools. This was great because I was able to share my problem of practice from the MASSP Michigan Leadership Fellows Program with a team of six other educators. I received some great feedback that helped to further my planning for increasing student enrollment in AP and Dual Enrollment classes.
The conference ended with the Gala on Friday evening. Beyond the administrator awards, the conference also recognized National Honor Society and National Student Council award winners. It was awe-inspiring to hear about all of the amazing things these students were doing. They awarded a $25,000 scholarship to one amazing young student. Did you know that all of your NHS seniors can apply for these awards? I did not, and it’s one of the many things I’ll be taking back to Mason High School! It was also a lot of fun to hang out with my fellow Michigan Principal Award winners. We had a great time taking photos and sharing stories!
In short, the conference was a great opportunity to network with exceptional leaders from across the country and recharge my batteries for the end-of-the-year madness! I am so thankful to the amazing educators at my school who took the time to nominate me and make all of this possible!
Know an exceptional school leader who goes above and beyond? Nominate them for an MASSP Administrator of the Year award! Recognize and celebrate your principal or assistant principal for their leadership and dedication to student success.
2027 applications are due September 11. Find more details and access nomination forms at https://massp.com/PotY/