June & July Heritage Month & Recognition Days 2025
June LGBTQ+ Pride Month: All Month Pride Month is an annual celebration that takes place in June to honor the LGBTQ+ community, promote inclusivity and raise awareness about the ongoing fight for equal rights. It commemorates the Stonewall riots in New York City, which occurred in June 1969 and sparked the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Pride Month is celebrated by individuals, organizations and communities worldwide. During Pride Month, people embrace their true…
Quick Tips | May 2025
In less than two months, the school year will be a wrap – and there's a lot happening between now and the last day. Prepare for celebrations, recognitions and big moments with advice from your Board of Directors. Michael Mulligan, Principal, Dickinson-Iron ISD Take time to enjoy the awards nights and end of year concerts. It is an excellent way to remind yourself of why it is great to be a principal. Assemble…
Quick Tips | April 2025
As the school year nears its final stretch, it’s time for principals and administrators to focus on key priorities to ensure a smooth and successful wrap-up. The following quick tips highlight essential actions to streamline teacher evaluations, finalize master schedules, optimize budgets, and plan for year-end activities. By taking proactive steps now, you can support your team, enhance staff satisfaction, and prepare your school for the upcoming academic year. Amy Pashak, Principal,…
QUICK TIPS | March 2025
Each month your MASSP Board of Directors creates a list of Quick Tips to accompany the month's Principal Checklist. Check out what your leaders and representatives have to say about things to keep in mind to be the best leader you can as we head into spring. JoLynn Clark, Principal, Frankenmuth High School Obtain input from instructional staff (teachers, paraprofessionals, etc.) on preferences and/or considerations to be taken under advisement while working…
FEBRUARY QUICK TIPS 2025 | Beat Winter Blues by Staying On Track
It's cold outside, but your MASSP Board of Directors has hot ideas to keep you moving forward this winter. From keeping staff motivated to planning for next year, ideas abound in this month's Quick Tips. Theresa Stager, Principal, Saline High School February can be a difficult month for leaders. Staff morale usually “dips” around this time. Consider a spirit week, a hot chocolate bar in the staff room, or another way to…
Quick Tips | January 2025
JoLynn Clark, Frankenmuth High School January is a good time to survey students and staff on how the 1st semester went and on setting goals for the 2nd semester. If you’ve utilized a theme for the school year with staff or students, this is a good time to evaluate how that focus is coming along, or identify tweaks to be made for 2nd semester. It also re-establishes the theme’s focus for the…
PROM QUICK TIPS | Prepare for the Best Prom Ever
A quintessential American tradition featured in teen movies and TV shows, Prom is built up in many students' minds as the opportunity for the best night of their teen lives. Ensure the story of the night is one of fun and memory making while being safe and smoothly run by working with your Student Leadership Team and students well in advance – and checking in on progress over the months ahead. Amy…
How AI Can Make Your Job Easier as a School Secretary: November 2024
MASSP is committed to bringing you practical and easy-to-understand tips on how to use AI to work smarter, not harder. In this quarterly guide, we’ll show you a simple way to use AI in your daily routine with an idea and a prompt you can try today. It’s no secret that the world is changing rapidly, and technology – especially AI – is becoming a part of our everyday lives. This can…
Secretary Scenarios w/ Chat GPT | Helicopter Parents
Here’s the situation: Helicopter parents are continually showing up at the school office throughout the year with items to drop off, requests to see their child, etc. How can we discourage this behavior? Here’s a list of professional ways a school secretary could handle frequent visits from helicopter parents, developed by ChatGPT, edited by humans: Set Clear Boundaries: Politely explain the school’s policies on parent visits, emphasizing the importance of allowing teachers…
QUICK TIPS November 2024 | Time for Renewed Purpose
Professional Development - Collaborative Learning with Peer Observations Encourage teachers to observe each other’s classrooms. Foster collaboration and insight into different teaching strategies. Hold reflective discussions after observations to share feedback and best practices. Identify areas for improvement together through shared experiences. Make professional development more interactive and practical. Look for celebrations of students and staff. Be mindful of student needs going into the holiday season, this can be a stressful time…