September 2026 QUICK TIPS | Let’s Do This!
As another school year begins, the pace is fast, the expectations are high and every interaction matters. The opening weeks set the tone for the culture, systems and relationships that will carry a school throughout the year. In this edition of MASSP Quick Tips, principals from across Michigan share practical strategies that have helped them launch the school year successfully – from building meaningful connections with students and staff, maintaining a visible…
Michigan High School Esports League Fall Season Registration is Now Open!
Returning and new schools can register on our new USAEL/RallyCry platform using the Registration Guide and IT Requirements Guide. Register for the 2026 Fall MHSEL Season. Coaches can also join MHSEL & RallyCry staff for a guided walkthrough of the new platform, including key features, resources, and tools for managing the season. Choose a session: August 25 at 3 PM or August 26 at 7 PM.
Evaluating Probationary Teachers to Facilitate Professional Growth and Effectiveness
Individualized Development Plan The Teachers’ Tenure Act requires that all probationary teachers receive an Individualized Development Plan (“IDP”) developed by an “appropriate” administrator in consultation with the teacher. An IDP includes specific performance goals to assist the teacher with improving effectiveness, and with designated training to help the teacher meet those goals. The IDP must include a timeline during which the teacher must meet IDP goals that may not exceed 180 days.…
What’s Your Story?
One of my favorite parts of this job is hearing the stories that don't make the headlines. The conversations that happen in hallways at conferences. The coffee before a meeting starts. The moment someone leans in and says, "Let me tell you what we pulled off this year!" Those are the ones I remember. This year, MASSP is making a real push to amplify the voices of school leaders across Michigan, and…
Tilling the Soil – Preparing for the Year Ahead
Each August, something shifts. We walk our buildings. We hear the hum of returning life. We feel both the excitement and the weight of a new year ahead. It’s a lot like tilling a garden. Before we can plant anything meaningful, the soil has to be turned over. It has to be broken up, aerated and made ready to receive what's next. That's what great leaders do before the first day of…
The Future-Ready Principal Is Not the Person With All the Answers
In recent conversations with school leaders, I have watched the same questions surface again and again. What should students be allowed to use? What should teachers be expected to do? Do we need a policy? Are we moving too slowly? Are we moving too fast? You can feel the pressure behind those questions. Not because these leaders are resistant to change, but because they understand the weight of getting it wrong. Their…
The MASSP AI Chatbot is Ready to Help
Finding the right resource on a website shouldn’t feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Whether you’re looking for an upcoming event, legal resource, professional learning opportunity, membership information, or simply trying to figure out who to contact, we know your time is valuable. That’s why MASSP launched our AI Chatbot earlier this year. Designed to help members and website visitors quickly find information, discover resources, and navigate everything MASSP…
Meeting the Moment: Reimagining MTSS for Secondary Schools
Michigan's PA 146 has accelerated the conversation around Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports, placing renewed attention on how middle and high schools identify and support students who need additional help. Yet for many secondary leaders, one question remains: What does high-quality MTSS actually look like in a middle or high school? Research continues to point to the same conclusion. Strong MTSS systems begin with strong Tier 1 instruction, but many secondary schools still struggle…
Leadership in Motion | Reality Always Gets a Vote: Leadership Begins When Plans Meet Reality
Leadership has a way of teaching the same lesson over and over again. Reality always gets a vote. A new initiative begins with optimism. The team has invested hours thinking through the details. The planning meetings have been productive. The implementation timeline is clear. The first staff meeting goes well, and people leave energized by the possibilities ahead. There is a genuine sense that the work is off to a strong start.…
That Was Great | Campers Take What They Learn into Life
The first week of Michigan Student Leadership Camp back in 2016 changed Paige Weber’s life. This senior counselor said camp expanded her world in ways she never imagined it would, meeting people from backgrounds different from her own, building lifelong friendships, and learning lessons that shaped who she would become. With three years as a camper and seven on staff, she’s not only supporting students at camp, but also in her own…