Balancing Growth and Innovation in CTE: Wenzel Leads Without Losing the Human Touch
In the world of Career and Technical Education, the stakes are often measured in real-world outcomes. As Joe Wenzel, Wilson Talent Center Principal, puts it: “Do you want someone working on your brakes that gets a 70% on their brake test, or do you want them to be proficient at it?” This focus on competency is what led Wenzel to support a grassroots move toward Evidence-Based Reporting within the building. For Wenzel,…
SET SEG Skilled Trade Scholarship Now Available
The SET SEG Foundation Skilled Trade Scholarship provides 20 qualified Michigan high school seniors ascholarship to further enhance educational opportunities within the skilled trades. Thanks to our generous donors, we have increased the scholarship amount this year to $1,000! With the shortage ofskilled trades workers in Michigan, the goal is to help revitalize the skilled trade career path as well asprovide opportunities for young learners and future generations to develop their skills…
Oh, Behave! | Solid Ground, Higher Ground: Leadership Grounded in Behavioral Intelligence Keeps Working
I recently had the privilege to visit my friend and graduate of the inaugural Michigan Leadership Fellows cohort, Mohamed Abusalah, Principal of McCollough-Unis Elementary and Middle School (K-8), and I left with renewed faith in our schools and our process. I am an advocate for the work we do in schools, but sometimes you have an experience that makes you understand, at your core, why we do this work Last Friday, I…
Beyond the Locked Door: Michigan’s New Blueprint for Student Safety
As Michigan schools approach the October 1, 2026 deadline, administrators must navigate a complex series of legislative requirements to ensure full compliance with HB 5549 and the broader 2026 school safety mandates. Michigan’s new BTAM training introduces a fundamental paradigm shift for school administrators, moving away from the immediate, punitive repercussions that have long defined disciplinary policy. Rather than relying on snap judgments or automatic out-of-school suspensions, the BTAM model mandates a…
Annual Certification Reminder: Are You and Your Team Ready for 2026?
As we move further into the 2025-26 school year, it is time for Michigan school leaders to turn their attention toward the annual review of staff credentials. Ensuring that every educator and administrator is properly credentialed is not just a regulatory necessity—it is a cornerstone of maintaining a high-quality learning environment for our students. Check Your Deadlines For many educators, the expiration date of June 30, 2026, is fast approaching. We encourage…
QUICK TIPS | Senior Activities & Commencement 2026
Senior activities such as prom, awards night, and commencement are yearly reminders of why we all get into the business of education. If not executed correctly, they can also quickly become a scene from one of our worst administrative nightmares! Below, you will find an assortment of “quick tips” and “think abouts” from a pair of MASSP veteran administrators, to help guide you through some of the most significant activities your building…
Stay Ahead with the Michigan AI Statewide Workgroup
Artificial intelligence continues to move quickly, and school leaders are being asked more and more often to guide conversations, set expectations, and support staff and families as new tools emerge. One easy way to stay informed is by connecting with the Michigan AI Statewide Workgroup and subscribing to their monthly resource newsletter. The workgroup, supported by Michigan Virtual and partners across the state, curates practical tools and guidance for educators, families, and…
Leadership in Motion | Stop Chasing the Snake
Healing, Not Hunting, Is How Leaders Protect Culture There is a story I return to whenever frustration starts to rise. A man is walking through the woods when a snake bites him. The bite hurts, but it is not fatal. If he walks back to the village for treatment, he will recover. Instead, anger takes over. He chases the snake down the path, determined to make it pay. Before long, the venom…
LegalEase February 2026 | Compliance Requirements Under Section 164k of the State School Aid Act
On October 7, 2025, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the State School Aid Act (Public Act 15 of 2025) for the 2026 fiscal year, which includes Section 164k (MCL 388.1764k). On December 11, 2025, the Michigan Department of Education ("MDE”) released a memorandum providing additional clarification. Section 164k introduces several compliance obligations for school districts and intermediate school districts (“ISDs”) with significant consequences for failing to comply. If a violation is reported and confirmed by…
Legislature Passes New Law on Student Wireless Devices: What Principals Need to Know and How to Use It Well
HB 4141 and SB 495 have passed the Michigan Legislature and are awaiting Governor Whitmer's signature. Because she is expected to sign them, Michigan schools will begin the 2026–27 school year under a new law that requires local school boards to adopt policies restricting the use of wireless communications devices during instructional time and tweak their emergency operations plans to account for wireless devices. MASSP supported this legislation because it provides principals…