Strengthening Leaders Across the Pipeline: MASSP’s Continuum of Support for Aspiring, Emerging, and Advancing Principals
The principalship is one of the most complex and critical roles in public education—and one of the most undersupported. In Michigan, we face growing shortages not only in our teacher pipeline, but in school leadership as well. That’s why MASSP developed Strengthening Leaders, a comprehensive, research-based suite of induction, mentoring, and coaching programs that support educators at every stage of their leadership journey. Whether you are preparing for your first leadership opportunity,…
Getting a Head Start on 2025-2026 Teacher Evaluations
As the 2024-2025 school year winds down and the new school year approaches, building administrators should begin preparing for 2025-2026 teacher evaluations by reviewing teacher rosters, past performance data, and evaluation scheduling requirements. Recent updates to teacher probation and tenure requirements under the Revised School Code Section 1249 and the Teachers’ Tenure Act make early planning essential for teacher evaluation compliance and effective teacher support. Importantly, because teacher evaluation is no longer…
How to Protect Youth with Tobacco Dependence Treatment and MDHHS Available Resources.
E-cigarettes’ aggressive marketing, flavors, and high concentrations of nicotine are predatorily designed to encourage youth initiation of e-cigarettes and turn that initiation into addiction. Youth are exposed to high concentrations of nicotine when vaping, and can quickly become addicted to affordable and accessible e-cigarettes. Prevention and tobacco dependence treatment, sometimes known as cessation programs, through the Tobacco Section can help reduce student absenteeism, frequent and unnecessary breaks, and reduce or eliminate exposure…
The Work Is Worth It: Lessons for Principals Who Want to Lead with Courage and Clarity
There are few roles more complex—or more consequential—than secondary school leadership. You’re expected to be both visionary and operational, bold yet steady, decisive and collaborative. And too often, you’re asked to do all of that without enough time, clarity or support. But real leadership doesn’t live in certainty—it lives in tension. These lessons are meant to ground, challenge and fuel you. They’re drawn from experience, reflection, and the kind of hard-earned wisdom…
NASSP Advocating for You
This March, more than 400 school leaders and student representatives from across the country met in Washington, D.C., to participate in the 2025 NASSP/NAESP Advocacy Conference, held from March 10–12. Representing both NASSP and NatStuCo, these advocates stepped away from their buildings to bring the voices of principals, assistant principals and student leaders directly to Capitol Hill. The timing of this conference was especially critical. As some national leaders propose the elimination…
Fueling Innovation at the Middle Level: Reflections from ASU+GSV and Beyond
By Nina Davis, MASSP Associate Director of Member Services & Middle Level Last month, a group of Michigan’s middle-level leaders traveled to the ASU+GSV Summit — a national gathering where education, innovation, and technology intersect in bold and inspiring ways. While the palm trees and sunshine were a welcome break from Michigan’s unpredictable spring weather, the real value came from the transformational learning, powerful networking and bold ideas for reimagining secondary schools.…
May 2025 LeagalEase | Student Issues at End of Year Events
The end of the school year comes with a flurry of events: concerts, plays, athletic championships, trips to Cedar Point, graduations, and, of course, prom. The conclusion of the school year is invigorating after a long, cold winter, but certain legal risks accompany these celebrations. This article focuses on legal issues surrounding dances, particularly prom, but the principles discussed offer important lessons for other end-of-year events as well. School dances, including prom,…
Gather With Purpose: Ending the Year with Intention and Impact
As we embark on the final stretch of the school year, there is a familiar weight that hangs in the air. Exhaustion sets in. Morale can dip. The “finish line” feels so close, yet somehow still far away. In these moments, the meetings we hold with staff matter more than ever — not as a box to check, but as a real opportunity to connect, to honor and to inspire. As a…
Exciting Opportunity for Path to Leadership Completers
We are thrilled to announce an expanded opportunity for Path to Leadership completers to earn advanced degrees through partnerships with Western Michigan University and Central Michigan University. Both institutions recognize the high quality of the PTL program and offer an accelerated pathway to earning a Master of Arts, Educational Specialist or Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership. Through agreements with WMU and CMU, PTL completers can apply 15 credits from their program toward…
Beyond the Memo: Building Genuine Transparency in Schools
School leaders often pride themselves on being transparent. They hold staff meetings, send newsletters, promote their school via social media and share key updates on district initiatives. But here’s the hard truth: Just because we share information doesn’t mean we’re being transparent. Imagine this: A principal announces a major schedule change at a faculty meeting. Teachers nod but later grumble in private conversations, asking why they weren’t consulted. Others feel blindsided, wondering…