MASSP Board of Directors Election Information 2026
MASSP election season is just around the corner. Are you ready to take on a bigger role within the Association, be an advocate for your fellow administrators and help advance your career? Every year, one-third of the seats of the MASSP Board of Directors are up for election-it's almost time! This year MASSP is seeking candidates for: President-Elect** Region 8 Representative Region 9 Representative Region 11 Representative Assistant Principal Representative – East…
MASSP Announces Next Executive Director
From left to right: JoLynn Clark, Principal, Frankenmuth High School & MASSP Past-President; Colin Ripmaster, MASSP Deputy Executive Director; Amy Pashak, Principal, Walled Lake Western High School & MASSP President; Steve Forsberg, Principal, Ludington High School & MASSP President-Elect. The Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals is proud to announce Colin Ripmaster has been selected as the next Executive Director of the association, succeeding current Executive Director Wendy Zdeb upon her retirement,…
QUICK TIPS January 2026 | New Year, Great Opportunities
January provides a strategic opportunity for principals to reflect on the first semester, realign priorities, and establish a focused and positive tone for the remainder of the school year. This is the time to review data, reaffirm routines, connect with staff through midyear check-ins, support seniors in finishing strong, and prepare for upcoming assessments. By taking these steps, school leaders create a purposeful and supportive environment that promotes success for both students…
Catalyst 2025: From Awareness to Action — Schools Start AI Plans, Together
MASSP welcomed more than 300 educators, administrators, and students from across Michigan to Catalyst: From Awareness to Action, a one-day immersive design experience focused on building schoolwide AI understanding and action. The energy in the room was undeniable as teams dug into what responsible, student-centered AI integration can, and should, look like in Michigan schools. The day opened with a powerful student panel representing districts across Michigan. Their message was clear: AI…
The Power of Student Voice: Building Ownership in the School Experience
As secondary school administrators, we spend a lot of time making decisions for students; building schedules, creating policies, planning events, developing supports. But in the rush of leadership, we can sometimes forget a crucial element: involving students in the process. At Woodhaven High School, we’ve made a conscious shift in recent years to elevate student voice in meaningful ways. And what we’ve seen is clear — when students are heard, they engage…
Leadership Is Seasonal Too (And Winter Comes With Permission Slips)
Leadership doesn’t look the same all year long. There are seasons that demand urgency, constant decision-making, and the ability to hold a hundred things at once. And then there are seasons that invite us to slow down, reflect, and restore our energy. The holiday break falls squarely into that second category. As administrators across Michigan, you spend most of the year pouring into students, staff, families, and communities. You lead through complexity,…
High School Esports Fall Season Recap: State Championships, Awards Ceremony & More at Michigan State University
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan High School Esports League wrapped up its fall 2025 season with an in-person event at Michigan State University, bringing together more than 400 students, coaches and spectators for Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Championships and an All-State Awards Ceremony, Dec. 6. The event highlighted the rapid growth of high school esports in Michigan and showcased standout talent from across the state. The MSU STEM building buzzed with activity as…
McKinney-Vento: Protecting Unhoused Students
The economic uncertainty caused by the recent lengthy federal government shutdown may have increased the number of students with housing instability. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (McKinney-Vento) is the federal law that protects students who are experiencing homelessness by removing barriers to school participation. Building staff who understand McKinney-Vento’s definitions and requirements are the “boots on the ground” who make it possible for schools to comply with the law and provide these…
Enough
Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “OK, that’s enough for today”? Enough tricky parent conversations that seem to start before you’ve even made it to your office. Enough student behaviors that feel more layered and complex than ever. Enough new legislation, new requirements, new mandates to interpret, implement and communicate. This time of year has a way of stretching school leaders in every direction. The stretch is real; so too is the…
Getting Ahead of the Curve: How Royal Oak Middle School is Redefining MTSS
What if a school could spot a student’s academic or social-emotional need before it ever had the chance to become a barrier? At Royal Oak Middle School, that question isn’t a hypothetical; it’s the heartbeat of the work happening every single day. Under the leadership of my fellow MASSP Board member, Kristin Meldrum, MTSS isn’t a program or a checklist. It’s a culture. A way of seeing students. A way of supporting…