Connecting Students to Real-World Pathways: Coopersville High School’s MEPP Program
At Coopersville High School, the Manufacturing, Engineering, Partnership Program (MEPP) is redefining how students experience career and technical learning. Principal Dr. Tricia McPheron shared that the program grew from the vision of a group of teachers across engineering, industrial arts, science, and math who wanted to create meaningful opportunities for students whose strengths may not always surface in traditional classroom settings. MEPP provides a clear pathway for students to apply skills developed…
When Deepfakes Enter the Hallway: Navigating AI Impersonation in Schools
Students are sharing a video that appears to show the teacher saying something offensive. The teacher insists it never happened. The video was created overnight and posted online. By the time school begins, it is already circulating among students. Situations like this are beginning to appear in schools across the country. Artificial intelligence tools can now generate convincing images, audio, and video that make it appear as if someone said or did…
Leadership in Motion | Leading Above the Line: How Principals Recognize Fear and Choose Better Responses
Leadership in Motion – Navigating Change, Shaping Culture, and Driving Impact Secondary school leadership places you under pressure almost daily. A frustrated teacher walks into your office after a difficult class. A parent emails demanding immediate action. A district directive arrives that will impact your master schedule. A staff meeting begins to drift toward tension and blame. In moments like these, something powerful happens inside every leader. Before we speak or act,…
Supporting Vape-Free Schools: Alternatives to Suspension & Student Support
Written by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Michigan Tobacco Section and the American Lung Association’s Community of Practice on Alternative to Suspension will help K-12 schools navigate the vaping public health emergency with tools to protect and support students impacted by nicotine use, we invite Michigan schools to join us to learn more about our Vape-Free Schools Initiative including resources to address tobacco and nicotine use, policy review, alternatives…
When Student Walkouts Test Leadership: Setting the Climate Under Pressure
There are moments in a secondary school when the temperature rises quickly. A social media post spreads.Students organize.Parents call.Local media starts asking questions. By the end of second period, you can feel the pressure in the hallways. The question is not whether you feel it. You will.The question is what kind of leader you will be when you do. Student walkouts connected to immigration enforcement and other national issues are creating that…
LegalEase March 2026 | Student Walkouts – When Students Choose to Speak With Their Feet
The world is showing no sign of providing fewer topics for students to get riled up about. And while student civic engagement is typically something to be celebrated, when that engagement manifests itself as protests and walkouts during the school day it presents school districts with a host of things to consider. Free Speech The US Supreme Court in Tinker v. Des Moines made clear that neither “students or teachers shed their…
MARCH 2026 Quick Tips | Spring into End of Year Planning
As we move into March, our board members have shared timely, practical ideas to help you lead with intention and momentum. From continuing to share MiLEAP’s financial resource toolkit with graduating seniors, to beginning soft rollouts of initiatives for next fall, these insights are designed to make your work more strategic and manageable. Aaron Romoslawski, Assistant Principal, Forest Hills Northern High School Use Notebook LM for weekly staff emails to provide a…
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…
From Conference to Culture Shift: How One Team Built a Culture Where Students and Staff Want to Be
Alysia Samborsky was introduced to the Jostens Renaissance framework at just the right time. After 10 years of teaching she had moved into administration and saw a definite need for culture building. Fortunately, around that time, her fellow L’Anse Creuse administrator, Meredith Beard, attended MASSP’s annual EdCon conference and heard Dr. Phil Campbell speak. Meredith took his message back to her colleagues and she, Alysia, Nick Ellul and Melissa Chase got district…
How Virtual Co-Teaching Is Helping Schools Expand Career-Connected Learning
By Protégé Game Studios • “Play to Learn, Create for Knowledge.” Across Michigan secondary schools, leaders are being asked to expand career-connected learning, STEM, and technology pathway opportunities while managing limited staffing, tight budgets, and increasing instructional demands. While student interest in technology-driven fields continues to grow, many schools face a common challenge: how to offer relevant, industry-aligned instruction without adding unsustainable pressure on teachers or requiring highly specialized in-house expertise. A…