QUICK TIPS DECEMBER | Dealer’s Choice
It is important to keep things moving forward as we near the mid-point of the school year. Sometimes it's the little things that can make a difference in how your day, week or month goes. MASSP Board of Directors share some keys to their success related to the holidays, approaching mid-year challenges and more: Mid-Year Meeting Tips: Send the reflective questions to teachers that you are responsible for evaluating. Have them respond,…
LegalEase November 2023 | PWFA and the PUMP Act
Over the last year, Congress passed two pieces of legislation designed to significantly help working mothers. They are the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the Providing Urgent Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP Act). Both went into effect in 2023. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for the PUMP Act, with final rules expected to go into effect next year. The PUMP Act…
Titans United
Twenty percent into the school year, I am sure the “honeymoon” is over at each of your schools, and students, parents, and sometimes staff are struggling and need support. The long stretch from October to March is the half of the calendar year that can be tough for students and for school culture. One of our goals this year at Traverse City West Senior High is to try to keep our Titans…
The First Amendment, Unfiltered
Principals are typically on the “front lines” of navigating parent concerns. When those “concerns” become critical, aggressive, or just plain mean, it can be tempting to take action. Before doing so, ensure you don’t run afoul of the First Amendment! First Amendment Right to Free Speech Parents, like all people, are entitled to the protections provided in the United States Constitution. And under the First Amendment’s free speech clause, people are generally…
LegalEase October 2023 | Who can record me?!
Situation: You step into a contentious meeting with a parent and talk through a difficult issue. Afterward, the parent says they recorded the conversation Question: Can someone record a confidential conversation without my permission? The short answer is – if they’re participating – probably. The Michigan Penal Code actually makes it a crime to eavesdrop on a conversation without the consent of all parties: Any person who is present or who is not present…
Bloomfield Hills HS Leader Named MI 2024 Assistant Principal of the Year
Jessica Lupone, Associate (Assistant) Principal of Bloomfield Hills High School, has been named Michigan’s 2024 Assistant Principal of the Year by the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals and the Michigan Association of Student Councils and Honor Societies. Lupone will represent Michigan as the state’s nominee for the National Association of Secondary School Principals Assistant Principal of the Year competition; which will be awarded in April during Trailblazing Leadership Weekend at the…
There’s No Place Like Home: Kyle Woodruff Shares the Story of Returning to His Home Town
As a child, Pinconning Middle/High School Principal Kyle Woodruff spent his early elementary years in Saginaw, MI, but in fifth grade he moved to Pinconning with his father when his parents separated. “Growing up in the area, I definitely was accepted; I had a lot of friends and everything like that,” Kyle said of Pinconning. “But I definitely felt different, you know, because it was primarily white. There were some African American…
Representation Matters: Nicole Kirby Shares Her Experiences
Nicole Kirby, Marine City Middle School Principal In 1919, Nicole Kirby’s paternal grandfather left Mexico for a new life in California. In the early 1970s, her parents left California for a new life in Michigan close to her mother’s family. Graduating from Marine City High School in 1988, Nicole didn’t know she would leave only to return someday as the Marine City Middle School principal. Throughout her childhood in Michigan, Nicole said…
Student Mental Health is a Priority; Add More Seats at the Table
Standing outside of the ballroom, looking in and listening intently, a woman wearing jeans, tennis shoes and a dark jacket was in the hallway at last year's Student Mental Health Summit. She would walk away, then return. This went on for more than 15 minutes – curious about why she didn't just walk in and join her group, I asked her if I could help her find someone. She apologized, explained that…