Date:
January 27, 2025 – January 28, 2025
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location:
Soaring Eagle Resort
Mt. Pleasant,
Cost:
$425 per person
Member Price $375
Registration for this event has closed.
January 27 & 28th
It is easy to get trapped in your office handling student discipline, solving problems for staff members and meeting with parents. How does an AP remain focused on important things like: growing teacher effectiveness, building relationships for a positive culture and staying up with current trends? This year’s theme is Navigating Change: Leading with Equity, Innovation, and Resilience will support that learning, leading, and growth! Come to the AP Summit to lead, learn and grow with your colleagues! This summit is for APs and Deans by APs and Deans. January is the perfect time of year to take a few days to recharge, fuel up and fire up with new ideas and return to the building to finish the year strong. The event of the year specifically designed for Assistant Principals, Deans & ADs is scheduled for Jan. 27 & 28th at Soaring Eagle Resort in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. If you have never attended this event you are in for two great days of networking and learning!
Who Should Attend
Asst. Principals, Deans of Students, Atheltic Directors, Counselors & Teacher Leaders
SCECHs
8
Submit a Presentation:
Call for presentations is now open! Click here to submit a presentation.
MASSP Cancellation Policy
Cancellations made ten (10) business days or more in advance of the training date, will receive a 100% refund. Cancellations made after this date, including no-shows, are nonrefundable. Registration fees may be transferred to another individual by contacting the MASSP office at (517) 327-5315.
In the event that MASSP must cancel a training due to unforeseen circumstances, including inclement weather, participants will be refunded the cost of registration or may credit the fee toward an upcoming training. MASSP does not assume responsibility for any additional costs, charges or expenses; to include, charges made for travel and lodging.
January 27, 2025
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Registration / Breakfast
January 27, 2025
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
General Session: Welcome & Keynote
Colin Seale, thinkLaw
January 27, 2025
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Break
January 27, 2025
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
Breakout Sessions Round #1
January 27, 2025
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM
Lunch
January 27, 2025
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Breakout Sessions Round #2
January 27, 2025
1:30 PM – 1:45 PM
Break
January 27, 2025
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM
Breakout Sessions Round #3
January 27, 2025
2:45 PM – 3:00 PM
Break
January 27, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:45 PM
General Session: Innovation Incubator & Parade of Ideas
January 27, 2025
4:45 PM – 5:15 PM
All MASSP Has to Offer
Ryan Cayce, MASSP
January 27, 2025
8:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Hospitality Reception
January 28, 2025
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Breakfast
January 28, 2025
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Breakout Sessions Round #4
January 28, 2025
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Break
January 28, 2025
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
General Session: Legislative Update
Bob Kefgen, MASSP
January 28, 2025
11:15 AM – 11:30 AM
Closing Remarks
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
6800 Soaring Eagle Boulevard
Mt. Pleasant, Michigan 48858
- Group Code: MASSP012625
Areas of Focus
The AP Summit’s breakout sessions will offer attendees actionable strategies on diverse topics, including:
- AI in education
- Innovative school design
- Legal best practices
- Student leadership
- And equity.
Attendees will explore tools to enhance engagement, foster student voice, navigate policies and build equitable practices while networking with peers to drive meaningful change in their own schools.
Breakout Session 1
January 27, 2025 | 10:45 AM
Building the Team: The AD as a Building Leadership Partner
From MIAAA: Kevin Guzzo, President & Don Watchowski, Vice President
Join us as we explore the role of the Athletic Director and how to best maximize their dynamic skill set ensuring that they are an influential part of your building leadership team. We hope you will leave with concrete ideas on how your Athletic Director and you can support one another while continuing to positively impact academic initiatives, non-academic goals and overall best practices within your school.
Breakout Session 1
January 27, 2025 | 10:45 AM
Critical Thinking: The Secret for Classroom Management
Colin Seale
Student learning is the ultimate goal in education, but we know it can’t occur without effective classroom management. Walk away from this session with practical strategies to leverage critical thinking within behavior management. After performing a root-cause analysis to start identifying triggers for classroom management problems, we’ll learn through group discussion, modeling, and hands-on activities – practical strategies that can immediately be implemented to address the “whys.” Participants will identify a concrete next step for implementation.
Breakout Session 1
January 27, 2025 | 10:45 AM
Smarter Leadership with AI: Share, Learn and Level Up!
Natalie Mootry, Assistant Principal, Hillside MS & Jessica Lupone, Assistant Principal, Bloomfield Hills HS
Session Presentation
Discover how AI can transform your role as an administrator! In this interactive session, explore practical tools to save time, analyze data, and enhance leadership. Share successes and challenges in small-group “water cooler” chats, gaining innovative ideas from peers. Walk away with actionable strategies to integrate AI into your daily workflows while addressing concerns like trust and privacy. Whether a tech pro or newbie, this session will inspire you to lead smarter with AI!
Breakout Session 1
January 27, 2025 | 10:45 AM
AI Legal Issues – Students, Staff and Policy
Adam Blaylock, Counsel, Miller Johnson
Session Presentation
This presentation will give school administrators the tools they need to be able to issue spot, evaluate and deal with the novel issues revolving around the use of Artificial Intelligence in education. While these tools offer tremendous opportunity to help make the world – and the lives of educators and students – better, their use is fraught with unique legal issues in a shifting landscape.
Breakout Session 1
January 27, 2025 | 10:45 AM
Empowering Our Schools: A Roadmap to a Vape-Free Future
From MDHHS: Grace Rudolph, MPH, Youth and Young Adult E-cigarette Consultant & Amanda Gallaher, MPH, RD, Policy Consultant
This presentation will explore the current state of youth vaping in Michigan and highlight emerging trends and concerns. The presenters will share insights from a recent survey assessing K-12 school responses to vaping and tobacco use, and provide a detailed roadmap to help schools implement effective strategies to prevent youth vaping, support students with quitting, and strengthen school policies to create healthier learning environments.
Breakout Session 1
January 27, 2025 | 10:45 AM
Capitalizing on Transition and Change to Implement Reforms
Kevin Wenzel, Assistant Principal, Lapeer HS
Leveraging transition to create inspirational and operational change. We will explore strategies for adapting curriculum during pivotal school transitions to enhance student outcomes. Learn how to leverage moments of change — such as new leadership and grade restructuring — as opportunities for innovation.
Breakout Session 2
January 27, 2025 | 12:30 PM
Designing Connection and Belonging in Schools
Rebeca Lazarean, Dean of Students, Eastpointe HS
Session Presentation
This session will explore how to design opportunities for connection and belonging within schools to improve equitable outcomes for students. We will discuss how to create conditions that promote social and emotional growth through an overview of “Design for Belonging” by Susie Wise and “It’s Never Just About the Behavior” by Claire English. Participants will learn how intentional design for connection and belonging can promote student well-being, trusting relationships, welcoming learning environments, and authentic school and community partnerships.
Breakout Session 2
January 27, 2025 | 12:30 PM
Career Kickstart – Expanding AP into Cybersecurity
Brandi Augenstein, Director of Pilot Partnerships, College Board
Career Kickstart is a new Advanced Placement program that expands the successful AP model to the career and technical education space and gives all students the opportunity to earn a tri-credit for in-demand careers (high school credit, college credit and industry-recognized credentials). The first AP Career Kickstart courses – piloting in 2024 – will be within the Cybersecurity pathway. Careers in cybersecurity are among the fastest-growing and most in-demand jobs in the nation – earning well-above average salaries.
Breakout Session 2
January 27, 2025 | 12:30 PM
Investigations 101
Adam Blaylock, Counsel, Miller Johnson
Session Presentation
In this presentation, a veteran investigator will discuss the fundamentals of conducting a sound investigation in student, staff and other matters. The presentation will outline legal requirements, best practices and pitfalls for conducting investigations. Not to mention the lessons learned from more than a decade of investigative experience.
Breakout Session 2
January 27, 2025 | 12:30 PM
Navigating the Early Transition to the Principalship
Vernon Burden, Principal, Athens HS & Jason Larsen, PhD, Principal, Lapeer HS
Session Presentation
Led by former assistant principals now in their first years as principals, this session offers practical insights into transitioning to the principalship. Participants will learn strategies for managing increased work duties, building strong community connections, setting meaningful goals and developing a clear vision. Through real-world experiences and guided discussions, attendees will gain actionable tools for a confident and impactful start in their new role.
Breakout Session 2
January 27, 2025 | 12:30 PM
AI in Education: Tools, Ethics and Equity for Transforming Learning
Mike Maksimchuk, Assessment Consultant, Kent ISD & Ricky Clark, Assistant Principal, Rockford Public Schools
Session Presentation
Explore the power of AI to innovate and support equity in education. This session delves into AI tools for differentiation, assessment alignment, and instructional support while addressing privacy, ethical use, and data management. Learn the essentials of prompt engineering and avoid common pitfalls in AI integration. Participants will gain practical strategies, discover useful tools, and engage in a collaborative discussion to share insights and successes in leveraging AI for inclusive, effective teaching practices.
Breakout Session 2
January 27, 2025 | 12:30 PM
Belonging Matters: Fostering a Culture of Connections
Jen Barnard, Dean of Students, Saline HS
Creating a sense of belonging is essential to student success and well-being. In this breakout session, we will explore practical strategies for fostering a culture of connection and inclusion within your school community. We’ll share actionable ideas to build relationships and create an environment where every student feels seen, supported and valued.
Breakout Session 3
January 27, 2025 | 1:45 PM
Analyzing Student Threats
Erin H. Walz, Attorney, Thrun Law Firm
Session Presentation
As the first line of defense for student threats, attendees will understand when schools may impose discipline and how to avoid legal pitfalls when navigating student threat assessments.
Breakout Session 3
January 27, 2025 | 1:45 PM
Not Your Typical ‘Study Hall’
Sidney Bailey IV, Assistant Principal, Portage West MS
Session Presentation
Are you wondering how to creatively include time during the day for your students to receive additional support from their teachers? Perhaps you have an SEL initiative that you can’t find time for. Or maybe you’re searching for ways to increase connectedness within your school community. If this is you or you’re interested in learning about how we are addressing all three of these areas with a daily schedule adjustment, come hear our story at “Not Your Typical ‘Study Hall.’”
Breakout Session 3
January 27, 2025 | 1:45 PM
Beyond the Language Barrier: Building Bridges of Empathy
Hanan Reda, Assistant Principal, Maples Elementary – Dearborn Public Schools & Jennifer Rodas, Assistant Principal, Burton MS
Session Presentation
As our schools become increasingly diverse, it is essential to prioritize the needs of English Language Learners. This session will provide administrators with practical strategies to foster empathy and support inclusive practices. It will provide insight on allocating resources to break down barriers that may hinder ELL success and ways to foster collaboration with teachers and staff to create a school-wide culture of empathy and inclusion for all.
Breakout Session 3
January 27, 2025 | 1:45 PM
Unlocking Post-Secondary Success for Students with Disabilities
Escanaba Area Public Schools: Jessica Garber, Assistant Principal & Krista Warm, Special Education Coordinator
Conversations with your district stakeholders can help create and implement a framework that will ensure that students who have an IEP are making the gains they need to be prepared for college and skills training. Learn how Escanaba Area schools are enhancing career prep planning, engaging parent and community partnerships, and utilizing data to inform class offerings to provide more equitable opportunities for all students.
Breakout Session 3
January 27, 2025 | 1:45 PM
Reimagining Attendance: Equity-Focused Strategies for Student Success
Zach MacIntosh, Associate Principal, L’Anse Creuse MS – East
Session Presentation
Participants will explore chronic absenteeism as an equity issue by examining data and insights on attendance disparities and their impact on student outcomes. Engage in best practice discussions, participate in interactive round table sessions with fellow participants and develop actionable plans. Participants will leave this session equipped with actionable items and strategies to try for improved attendance and equity in their schools.
Breakout Session 3
January 27, 2025 | 1:45 PM
Enhancing Teaming Structures to Save Time and Better Support Students
Jeneen Hatoum, Director of High School Innovation, Michigan College Access Network
Time! We need more time. In this session, participants will leverage research-based best practices for effective teaming to audit their own teaming structures. Participants will self-assess and reflect on their own school systems and practices in leading teams and walk away with practical next steps to ensure that teacher leadership is leveraged and elevated to better support students while simultaneously protecting the time of Assistant Principals.
Breakout Session 4
January 28, 2025 | 9:00 AM
College in High School: Building an Equitable Dual Enrollment Program
Jeff McNeal, Education Consultant, Michigan Department of Education
Session Presentation
Do all your students have the opportunity to gain college credit while in High School? Every student can participate in Dual Enrollment – it is an option that all districts must provide. Learn what is required and how a district can boost all students’ success in high school and beyond.
Breakout Session 4
January 28, 2025 | 9:00 AM
Restorative Practices as the Foundation for Belonging
Margaret Schultz, Assistant Principal, University HS & Jessica Lupone, Assistant Principal, Bloomfield Hills HS
Session Presentation
Explore how restorative practices foster connection, respect and trust in schools. This session offers strategies to build relationships, repair harm, and create inclusive, equitable environments. Learn practical ways to shift from punitive to restorative approaches, cultivating spaces where every voice is valued. Participants will leave equipped to build a stronger sense of belonging for students, staff and families.
Breakout Session 4
January 28, 2025 | 9:05 AM
State of AP in Michigan: New Courses, Access, Equity and PBL
Brad Brunner, Senior Director, College Board
In this session, we’ll start by looking back at the most popular AP classes in Michigan from the 2023-24 school year. Following that, we’ll learn about the fastest growing AP courses in Michigan, new AP courses, AP Access courses, Career Kickstart and the newest research on AP instructional strategies.
Breakout Session 4
January 28, 2025 | 9:00 AM
Change Management and You
Aaron Romoslowski, Assistant Principal, Forest Hills Northern
Session Presentation
This session is designed to equip the attendees with a change management model that can be used in a variety of circumstances. The model will be used to exemplify how one large district has approached the AI adoption process. Attendees will leave with actionable information that can immediately be applied in their specific context when trying to create sustainable change in their building.
Breakout Session 4
January 28, 2025 | 9:00 AM
Back to Basics: Student Discipline
Cathleen Dooly, Attorney, Thrun Law Firm
Session Presentation
It’s always a good time to have a refresher on student discipline. Attendees will revisit current laws surrounding student discipline and ensure they have the tools necessary to keep their schools running smoothly to the end of the school year.
Breakout Session 4
January 28, 2025 | 9:00 AM
Supporting Culturally Responsive Classroom Practices
Sara Van, Assistant Principal, Kent ISD/KCTC
Session Presentation
This session will present a framework for understanding components to culturally responsive practices in the classroom. It will support participants’ understanding of how to support teaching staff in their growth toward implementation of culturally responsive practices. The presenter will share findings from research conducted focused on teachers’ understanding of culturally responsive practices and how it impacts their classrooms.
Breakout Session 1
January 27, 2025 | 10:45 AM
Empowering Change: How TRAILS Helps Schools Navigate the Mental Health Crisis
Destiny Allen, Senior Implementation Manager, TRAILS
Session Presentation
Explore how TRAILS helps school leaders address student mental health with tools, training, and system-level support. Learn about tiered systems, integrating mental health services into school policies, and fostering a positive culture to improve well-being and academic outcomes for students and educators.
Colin Seale
Colin Seale, a Brooklyn native, turned his challenging upbringing into a passion for educational equity. As a former math teacher, attorney, and now keynote speaker, Colin draws from his experiences to advocate for critical thinking in education. He is the author of Thinking Like a Lawyer and Tangible Equity and founder of thinkLaw, an award-winning organization helping educators close the critical thinking gap for all students. When not championing equity, Colin delights in entertaining his two young children.
Bob Kefgen
Bob has been working in state state politics since 2001 when he began his career as a legislative staffer in the Michigan House of Representatives. Prior to coming to MASSP, Bob worked at the Michigan Association of School Administrators and Michigan Department of Human Services. He has a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, is the child of two educators, and has been around education politics so long he remembers having a Proposal A yard sign in his lawn as a kid.
Bob lives in East Lansing with his wife Kacie, two children, and cat. In what free time he has, Bob enjoys running, homebrewing, tabletop gaming, and hunting.