Author: Ryan Cayce

This webinar featured Laura Fisher of the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan, who provided educators with an essential overview of the vital distinction between sacred or traditional tobacco and commercial tobacco. The discussion emphasized that for the tribal communities, traditional tobacco is integral to their spiritual identity and used as medicine, contrasting sharply with commercial products which hold no cultural significance but have been aggressively marketed to Native Americans. To combat the resulting…

This session gave school leaders a chance to bring their most complex, real-time building challenges directly to attorney Kevin Sutton, who offered clear, practical guidance rooted in current Michigan school law. Participants raised questions around student conduct, parent access to information, student identity and naming requests, safety concerns, and how to respond when behaviors or situations fall into legal gray areas. Kevin helped administrators sort through what is allowed, what requires caution,…

We get a lot of questions about school funding — and we know you get them in your community too. “What about the lottery money?” “How come we keep hearing about record funding, but nothing changes?” MASSP’s Associate Director of Government Relations Bob Kefgen will host MASB’s Director of Government Relations Jennifer Smith to walk through how increasing demands on the School Aid Fund coupled with structural shifts and tax cuts are…

From parents asking for access to records, to lawyers issuing subpoenas, school leaders are often on the front lines of sensitive information requests. This session will help you understand the legal frameworks behind FERPA, subpoenas, and testimony requests—and give you clear strategies for how to respond. Know what’s protected, what must be shared, and how to manage tricky situations without putting your school or district at risk with Kelly Bowman & Brian…

With the recent legislation conversation in Michigan encouraging schools to take a closer look at cell phone use, many educators are seeking real-world strategies to create more focused learning environments. As phone use continues to impact student engagement and school culture, the question isn’t if we act, but how. In this panel discussion, hear directly from Yondr partner schools across Michigan that have successfully implemented and sustained phone-free environments. From building community…

The “Student Discipline Done Right” webinar, led by attorney Kevin Sutton of Miller Johnson Law Firm, provided school leaders with clear, practical guidance on one of the most complex areas of school law—student discipline. Sutton walked participants through the legal foundations of due process, proper documentation, and the critical steps administrators must follow to ensure disciplinary actions are fair, consistent, and legally defensible. The session also explored alternatives to suspension and expulsion,…

MASSP's Associate Director of Government Relations, Bob Kefgen, led a deep dive into Michigan’s newly passed FY 2025 budget. The session covered both the headline items seen in the news and the overlooked details that could impact schools, staff, and students. Designed for secondary administrators, it helped leaders cut through the noise and gain the insights they needed to plan for the year ahead. https://youtu.be/SrPjPAosBNI Slide Deck

Educators joined The Behavioral Edge webinar to explore how the Elements of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth shape leadership and school culture. In this free one-hour MASSP session, participants identified their own behavioral style, discovered how to adapt their approach to lead more effectively, and learned strategies to strengthen collaboration and engagement across their teams. Designed for principals, assistant principals, and aspiring leaders, the session provided a practical framework for building thriving…