To start I want to thank and acknowledge the many people who have helped me and been there for me on my journey as a high school administrator. The MASSP family and all of the administrators across the state, especially my OK Conference colleagues, have been inspiring and always there to help out if needed. I was truly grateful for the opportunity and honor to represent MASSP and the State of Michigan at the NASSP Illuminate Principal of the Year conference in Seattle a few weeks ago. Below are three reflections about the conference and conversations I have had with other state principals. The bottom line is that no matter what state, how big the school is, or the demographics of the district, we are all facing similar successes and challenges. It is affirming to know that we truly have a national network of secondary school principals to reach out to if needed!
Who do you celebrate your success with?
New Jersey Principal of the Year and NASSP National Principal of the Year Tony Cattani hosts a podcast titled “Proud Principal Podcast” which I was fortunate enough to be a part of along with other state principals of the year. One of the questions that Tony asked me on the podcast was to share my proudest moment as a principal and who I celebrate my successes with.
While I gave an answer, it made me feel a little strange in answering the question because by nature I feel that we as principals try to stay away from the spotlight or direct the focus on our staff and students. After the podcast I asked Tony why he asked that question and where the idea for the podcast came from. Tony explained that he was sick of always being in an administrator meeting or local principal meeting and always hearing the complaints and the negative things about the job. While he acknowledged that those things are real and that there is a time to vent and commiserate, he wanted to shift the focus away from the complaint spiral that often happens when administrators get together. Also, he wanted to make sure there was a space where principals could feel comfortable celebrating success in an authentic way and not feel bad about it.
Therefore, I am going to add this routine of celebrating success and sharing it with each other to our high school admin. meetings at Grandville and our OK Conference meetings. However, I am also hoping that we might be able to set up a State-wide network as well to share our successes and shift the narrative away from the negative. We deserve to celebrate our achievements! So if anyone needs a thought partner, someone to call to share something good or to just talk through an idea, I am always here to listen, learn and celebrate with you! If you need my cellphone number, just email me at alancto@gpsbulldogs.org.
My challenge to our group is to find time to connect with each other even when the job gets busy, either to share successes, bounce ideas or brainstorm together. The MASSP group is inspiring and together we can uplift this great profession and continue to support our students in Michigan!
Not our fault, but our opportunity to lead and solve it
No doubt I had a little bit of imposter syndrome going as I sat in a room filled with principals from across our great nation. I kept thinking to myself that there is no way I should be in this room with these influential and “important” administrators who are doing amazing things in their schools. As I settled into the week and got the opportunity to know the others on a deeper level, I realized quickly how we were all there to learn and collaborate together without any ego involved. It was comforting and reassuring to be sitting with peers across the country trying to solve issues with education on a variety of different levels.
We were asked several times throughout the week to consider what we would do with our platform now that we had been recognized as a principal of the year. Again, an overwhelming concept at first. Yet, I had recently read a compelling story that captured a concept that made me understand how I could use my platform: the difference between blame and responsibility.
The story was about a former U.S. Coast Guard officer and middle school principal who recalled a rescue mission where he and a colleague were deployed hundreds of miles offshore to assist a blind man attempting to sail solo from California to Hawaii. The weather was dangerous, and while the situation seemed almost unbelievable, the rescuers didn’t focus on whether the man’s decision was wise. It wasn’t their fault he was in trouble—but it was their responsibility to solve the problem and bring him to safety.
As administrators, we face a similar reality. Students and staff come to us with diverse backgrounds, experiences and challenges—some within their control, and many far beyond it. It is not our fault when they are unprepared, unmotivated or lack support. But it is our responsibility—and more importantly, our opportunity—to help them succeed.
Our job is to ensure every student learns the essential knowledge, skills, and habits that will prepare them for graduation and for life. We don’t get to choose the circumstances, but we do get to choose our response and how we lead our staff to be prepared to help our students. Each day presents the opportunity to guide, support, and challenge our students and staff to be their best—even when the odds are difficult.
Last year, I spoke to our seniors about the power of showing up—how simply being present leads to deeper relationships, stronger performance, and personal growth. That message remains relevant for all of us. This year, there will be moments of frustration and uncertainty. Some will be out of our control. But we must continue to show up—with optimism, energy and the belief that we can make a difference.
Show up for those who need a smile.
Show up for those who need to be challenged.
Show up for those pushing through adversity.
Show up for each other.
Show up for yourself.
Show up for the joy, hope, and light your school and community need.
We can each use our platforms as the principal of our respective schools to have the same impact I described above. We always joke that “everything is our fault” as principals and while that may not always be the case, we know it is our responsibility to lead no matter what.
So what am I going to do with my platform to show up? I am going to get out of my comfort zone to be more involved with advocacy within our state and, as relevant, at the national level for education. NASSP encouraged all of us to take a more active role in this. I struggled at first due to the political nature that comes with these conversations at times. Ensuring a neutral stance is vital in our roles. However, I am choosing to frame my energy around things that directly affect students and our ability to support them.
We discussed in our regional meetings at EdCon the barriers and challenges we all face. Again, these are not our fault, but they are things we can use our platform and expertise to influence. So if I only get one chance as Michigan Principal of the Year, I am going to try to use that leverage to try to solve and speak up about things that are impacting the ability for us to positively support our students, and I encourage you all to do so too!