Stengthening Leaders | All administrators deserve someone to walk alongside them at every stage of the leadership journey
Walk into any thriving school, and you’ll find one thing at the center of its success: a confident, supported building leader. But confidence doesn’t just appear the day someone gains the title “Principal” or “Assistant Principal,” it’s learned and developed over time. Think about those first weeks in a new administrative role — the learning curve is steep. Overnight, you’re expected to be the visionary, the crisis responder, the culture builder, the…
Principal Pulse Check | We asked: What is one thing your staff needs more of before winter break? (And how do you plan to provide it, if you can?)
Check out responses from your peers. Next week, consider contributing an idea and resource for a new next prompt. Positive praise. I am leaving sticky notes on their desks as I stop in rooms throughout my walk throughs. I am being intentional to notice things they are doing that have a positive impact on students and being sure to note it so they know I see it. – Amanda Theuerkorn Horizon Elementary,…
Midland High School Principal Establishes Legacy as MI 2026 High School Principal of the Year
With balloons decorating the gym and a pep band setting the tone, Tiela Schurman’s family, students and colleagues were there to cheer for her when Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals Executive Director Wendy Zdeb made the surprise announcement recognizing her as the Michigan 2026 High School Principal of the Year. “When she served as a MASSP Board member I saw Tiela’s professionalism and enthusiasm first hand as she presented for our…
Principal Pulse Check | We asked: What part of your job feels most overwhelming right now, and what are you doing to overcome or cope with that feeling?
Check out responses from your peers. Next week, consider contributing an idea and resource for a new next prompt. Student mental health. I work with obtaining signed permission forms and changing placeholders to classes for students taking online, DE, and independent study classes. What is most overwhelming to me is set deadlines and our counseling team not following them. To cope, I keep telling myself that if this is "What's best for…
QUICK TIPS November 2025 | Time to Check In and Show Gratitude
November brings cooler days and the wrap-up of the first quarter. It’s a season that often brings the very real fatigue of fall, but also a chance to pause in gratitude for the hard work of staff, the growth of students, and the support of families. With a holiday break on the horizon, this month’s checklist will help you stay focused by keeping up with teacher observations and feedback, reviewing student progress…
Principal Pulse Check | We asked: What is one thing you’ve done to improve or support student attendance this fall?
Check out responses from your peers. Next week, consider contributing an idea and resource for a new next prompt. We started doing conferences early with families that had chronic absenteeism last year. Once they already hit 3 absences we scheduled a parent meeting this quarter. It has helped us come up with creative solutions to help get students to school more often. Every five weeks I send an email to all students…
From the Classroom to the Office, and Back Again
Principal Jessica Vanderbrook left Lake City High for MSU as a teenager and discovered some students had an advantage: AP classes. Returning to LCHS as a teacher, she vowed that wouldn’t happen to other Trojans. The school offers six AP classes – and she teaches one of them. Walking from the office to the conference room her five senior AP Calc students call home, kids say “Hi!” as they pass by after…
Principal Pulse Check | We asked: What instructional practice is working really well in your classrooms right now?
Thinking Classrooms. They are getting students engaged and visually learning. Vertical learning spaces (math). Student dialogue supported through Building Thinking Classrooms (Math). A & B partner protocols to help scaffold student talk with discipline specific content. Query Based Instruction Using AI to differentiate learning for students. Restorative circles from Ali Hearn is a districtwide goal and we are also including more student choice/autonomy. We had a teacher share a great grouping strategy…
Principal Pulse Check | How are you addressing the needs of students who are struggling to adjust this fall?
Check out responses from your peers. Next week, consider contributing an idea and resource for a new next prompt. We are using PD and Staff meeting time to scan EWS data and placed teachers in grade teams to look for issues. We take referrals from staff for students in need of extra support via our MTSS form. Our team reviews the submissions and schedules student Intervention meetings as warranted. RESOURCE: Generic SIM…
QUICK TIPS October 2025 | All About Fall
October is the last full month before January, so now’s the time to make the most of observations, student meetings, and planning for some state requirements. This is the month to plan ahead and be proactive with your schedule. While October can be bumpy, it’s also the time to focus on your “Big Rocks” and get things scheduled and done! Nicole Carter, Principal, Novi High School Schedule monthly check-in meeting with new…