When We Support You, You Can Support Them
There is a line in this week’s Member Spotlight that has stuck with me. As Patrick Donahue describes the intentional progression Allen Park Middle School has created for students, the message changes as students grow: In sixth grade: We’ve got you. Let us show you how. In seventh grade: Now let’s start doing this together. And by eighth grade: You’ve got this. Show us what you can do. It is a model…
Welcome to The Assist: A New Year, A New Way to Connect
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…
Whatever This School Year Brings, MASSP Is With You
Anyone who has worked in school leadership knows that even the best plans cannot prepare you for everything. I've sat in the principal’s chair, and I know there are days when you need a resource, days when you need another perspective and days when you just need someone who understands. Whatever the school year brings, MASSP is here for you! You cannot predict when a parent concern will escalate, when you will…
What’s Your Story?
One of my favorite parts of this job is hearing the stories that don't make the headlines. The conversations that happen in hallways at conferences. The coffee before a meeting starts. The moment someone leans in and says, "Let me tell you what we pulled off this year!" Those are the ones I remember. This year, MASSP is making a real push to amplify the voices of school leaders across Michigan, and…
Membership Matters Survey | Your Voice Matters
As we move toward the final stretch of the school year, I’ve found myself reflecting on the relationships, experiences and moments that make MASSP feel like more than just a professional association. For many of us, MASSP has been a place where we found our people. Maybe it was through a conference conversation, a mentor who encouraged us to join, a session that shifted our thinking, or simply knowing there were other…
We Celebrate the Heartbeat of Each School
In every school, there is a steady rhythm that keeps the day moving forward. It is not found in a bell schedule or a lesson plan. It is found in the front office, behind the scenes, and in the countless interactions that make a school feel like a community. On Administrative Professionals Day, we celebrate the individuals we often refer to as the heartbeat of our schools. To honor their impact, we…
Rethinking What’s Possible: An Invitation to Middle Level Leaders
What if the next breakthrough in your school is already sitting in your building … just waiting for the right space, the right support, and the right conversation? Across Michigan, middle schools are navigating a familiar set of challenges: student engagement that ebbs and flows, staff who are stretched thin, schedules that never seem to allow enough time for meaningful collaboration, and a constant push to meet the evolving needs of young…
Membership Matters: Strengthening the Principal–Administrative Assistant Partnership
School leadership is often described through the lens of vision, decision-making, and instructional leadership. Yet behind every effective principal is a strong operational partnership that helps translate priorities into action: the relationship between the building leader and their administrative assistant. This partnership is not simply logistical. It is foundational to the daily rhythm, organization, and responsiveness of the school. The Often-Unseen Leadership Team Administrative assistants serve as communication managers, organizational anchors, scheduling…
Membership Matters | Support When It Matters Most
Every membership concierge session I’ve had reminds me of one simple truth: leadership is more rewarding when you’re connected and supported. Whether you’re stepping into a new role, looking for meaningful support for your school context, or thinking ahead to grow future leaders, MASSP has programs designed to meet you where you are. Below are a few real-world scenarios I’ve heard recently, plus resources and events tied to each. Scenario 1: The…
Membership Matters | Two Things I’m Thankful For: Our Members and Our Board
As we head into the season of gratitude, I have been reflecting on what makes MASSP so special, and two things rise to the top. First, our incredible members who continuously share their expertise, challenges, and ideas to help shape the work we do at MASSP. Second, our dedicated Board of Directors, who give their time and energy to ensure that principals and assistant principals across the state have meaningful opportunities to…