Uplifting Student Voice: How Bay City Western Asks “What’s Up Warriors?”
Every year, schools across the State of Michigan send out climate and culture surveys to their students to evaluate their campuses and buildings. While taking the pulse of your organization is a widely accepted best-practice, many of us ask the question, “Are we getting the true voice of our students?” At Bay City Western High School, staff and administration have taken what was at one time a yearly survey, and turned it…
Innovation in Action | Where Joy Meets Rigor: How Copper Island Academy Is Reimagining School Through the Finnish Model
In the northern reaches of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—where Lake Superior winds shape both landscape and lifestyle—a quiet transformation in education is taking root. At Copper Island Academy, learning looks and feels different. There is movement. There is trust. And perhaps most strikingly, there is joy. That transformation didn’t begin with a strategic plan or a mandate. It began with a question. A Community at a Crossroads In 2020, as schools across the…
From Thrun Law | Student Dress Codes: More Than a Fashion Statement
The words and images displayed on student t-shirts and hats are often more than just decoration; they are expressive activity and may be protected by the First Amendment. This article discusses the legal standards regarding student expression and provides pointers for implementing and enforcing student dress codes, including at special events such as prom and graduation. First Amendment The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the freedom of both speech and…
We Celebrate the Heartbeat of Each School
In every school, there is a steady rhythm that keeps the day moving forward. It is not found in a bell schedule or a lesson plan. It is found in the front office, behind the scenes, and in the countless interactions that make a school feel like a community. On Administrative Professionals Day, we celebrate the individuals we often refer to as the heartbeat of our schools. To honor their impact, we…
Michigan Schools Don’t Have to Navigate AI Alone
Regardless of your leadership position or the pace of your environment, artificial intelligence will touch your world and your work. Each community will have a different experience, shaped by local values, student needs, and the readiness of your staff and families. The AI Lab at Michigan Virtual meets schools exactly where they are. Since 2023, we've served more than 20,000 Michigan educators, building the longest-running and most diverse K-12 AI experience in…
Oh, Behave! | When Good Plans Meet Complex People
Over the past several months, I have had the opportunity to travel across the state, lead conferences and engage in book studies; working with school leaders, and their leadership teams, on a familiar set of challenges. Those challenges include AI implementation, cell-phone policies and chronic absenteeism; all grounded in instructional improvement and all about leadership development. Different districts, different contexts, different communities, and yet, the conversations sound remarkably similar. A principal shares…
Disciplining Students with Disabilities: The Building Administrator’s Role
Both the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) provide students with disabilities certain disciplinary protections when they face a change of placement due to a student code of conduct violation. A disciplinary change of placement occurs when a student is removed for more than 10 consecutive school days or the student has been subjected to a series of removals totaling more than 10…
Leadership Lives Here | Building Leadership That Benefits Kids: Why Intentional Staffing Matters
Every staffing decision is ultimately a student achievement decision. This time of year you are no doubt preparing staffing needs, looking at making critical moves, and looking to use the human resources you have to make the most impact on students. While doing this I hope this article helps give you some key principles with organizational leadership. As building principals, we know that schedules, team structures, hiring choices, role definitions, and leadership…
Leadership in Motion | Rise Higher: What the Eagle and the Crow Teach About Leadership Focus
Navigating Change, Shaping Culture, and Driving Impact There is an old story about the eagle and the crow that carries a useful leadership lesson. The crow is one of the few birds bold enough to harass an eagle. It will land on the eagle’s back and peck at its neck, trying to provoke a reaction. The eagle does not fight the crow.It does not chase it. It does not waste energy trying to…
Results Are In: MASSP Board of Directors Election 2026!
Meet Your Incoming Board Representatives Polls closed on Friday, April 10, at 3:00 p.m., for MASSP's Board of Directors 2026 Election. This year's group of candidates are all exceptional administrators and we want to thank them for taking the initiative to run for a position. We appreciate the support and engagement of all members who took the time to vote for their representatives. MASSP is proud to announce the results of the…