Welcome back to a new school year and welcome to The Assist: Where Administrative Assistants Learn, Connect & Lead.
If The Assist looks and feels a little different this year, that’s intentional.
We’ve been listening to what administrative assistants across Michigan have told us about their work: you’re managing constant interruptions while trying to meet important deadlines. You’re often the person everyone turns to for an answer. You’re navigating everything from student records and budgets to staff absences, communication, pupil accounting and graduation. And too often, you’re expected to figure out new systems, policies and responsibilities without enough training or opportunities to learn from others doing similar work.
We heard you.
That’s why MASSP is in the process of redesigning this series to better support the people doing this incredibly important work every day.
What You Can Expect
Throughout this year, The Assist will grow beyond a publication into a place for learning, connection and practical support.
Based on the feedback you’ve shared with us, we’re working to provide:
- Monthly virtual conversations where administrative assistants can connect with colleagues, ask questions, share what’s working and talk candidly about the challenges of the role.
- Virtual learning opportunities focused on the topics you’ve told us matter most, including time management, managing interruptions, Google and Microsoft tools, AI, budgets, communication, pupil accounting, registrar responsibilities and more.
- Practical resources you can save, reference and put to use in your work.
- In-person learning opportunities developed in collaboration with other Michigan education organizations so we can connect you with even more expertise and resources.
- Opportunities to learn from one another, because some of the best expertise already exists within this community.
One message came through particularly clearly in your feedback: you want more opportunities to connect with people who understand your role.
We want that too.
Whether you work in a principal’s office, counseling office, athletic office, district office, records office or somewhere in between, you shouldn’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you encounter something new. The Assist can become a place to ask, “How are other schools handling this?” and actually have somewhere to find the answer.
We’re Building This With You
Here’s the most important part: This isn’t a finished product.
We’re building The Assist with you, not simply for you.
Your feedback will continue to shape the topics we offer, the resources we create and the ways we bring this community together. If there’s something you need, something you’ve figured out that could help someone else, or something you wish someone had taught you when you first stepped into your role, we want to hear about it.
Because administrative assistants don’t simply support the work happening in our schools.
You help make the work possible.
We’re excited about what The Assist can become, and even more excited to build it alongside you.
Welcome to The Assist. Let’s learn, connect and lead together.