Leadership in Motion | Beyond the Streetlight: What Are You Not Asking?
There’s an old story my father shared with me when I was figuring out what to do after high school. It still echoes in moments of uncertainty and continued to resonate as I moved from the classroom as a teacher, to the building level as an assistant principal and principal, and now to the state level with MASSP. While I’m no longer serving in a principal role, I often share this story…
EdCon 2025 | Meet Your Vendors!
Our Partners in Education Are Excited to Meet You! From class rings to insurance, and learning to leading, EdCon's 30+ vendors are here to prepare your school for the 2025-26 school year; click their name to see what they have to offer. Have questions or want to learn more? No problem - visit them in person on Tuesday and Wednesday during EdCon at their vendor exhibits! Some companies elected to share a…
How to Handle ESTA Leave Requests
You probably heard about the recent enactment of the Michigan Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA). Which employees does ESTA apply to, and how should building administrators handle ESTA leave requests? How do ESTA leave requirements intersect with other employee leave entitlements? This article addresses these critical questions. Employees Subject to ESTA ESTA applies to most school employees, including salaried and hourly employees who work either full-time or part-time work schedules. The statute…
From Building to Leading: Connecting Behavioral Elements and Building Ranks
In the first article of this series, we introduced the concept of Behavioral Intelligence—the ability to explain, predict, influence, and control our own behaviors and those of others. We explored how the Behavioral Elements framework helps leaders understand the internal drivers that shape their actions and reactions. But understanding behavior is only the beginning. The real power of Behavioral Intelligence emerges when we apply it to the work of leading schools. In…
This Week in Politics in 5 Sentences (or Fewer)
On Tuesday, the Senate Education Committee took testimony on SB 350, which would allow 11th grade students to opt out of the ACT WorkKeys assessment—a narrowly framed proposal that opens the door to long-overdue discussion but falls well short of the full repeal that principals have consistently called for, leaving open the question of whether policymakers will ultimately make real progress toward eliminating this burdensome and largely useless test or settle for…
House K-12 Budget Proposal Draws Broad Backlash from Education Leaders
The House K-12 budget proposal, HB 4577, was released and passed on the same day this past week. The proposal is a radical departure from the traditional budget process and comes far later than is normal in the year, which leaves in doubt whether the Legislature will have budgets in place by the end of June. More concerning, the House budget proposal strips away vital student supports, inflates funding numbers through one-time…
Looking Back, Moving Forward: Supporting School Leaders in a Time of Change
As we close the chapter on the 2024–25 school year, I’m proud to reflect on how the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals has evolved in both vision and action to meet the needs of building leaders across the state. This was a year of planning, possibility, and purpose—a year defined by our commitment to supporting school leaders as they face an ever-changing educational landscape. We know the job of the principal…
From Thrun Law Firm | McKinney-Vento: Who is Homeless?
Students experiencing homelessness is no small concern. The most recent comprehensive, nation-wide survey counted 1,374,537 students experiencing homelessness during the 2022-2023 school year. The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act grants equal access to public education to K-12 students experiencing homelessness. The Act mandates that schools revise policies and practices that place barriers on the enrollment, attendance, and academic success of students facing homelessness. Public Notice Obligations All schools must designate a “Homeless…
Trust Fuels Agility: What Every Secondary Principal Needs to Know
When educational leaders talk about agility, we often focus on flexible scheduling, adaptive systems, or instructional shifts. But beneath all of those is something deeper: trust. Without trust, decisions stall, staff retreat into self-preservation, and innovation flatlines. True organizational agility in schools, especially at the secondary level, is impossible without a high-trust culture. Leadership Question: What would your staff say they’re trusted to lead and where are they still waiting for permission?…
MDHHS Tobacco in Schools: Rethinking Zero Tolerance – A New Vision for School Tobacco & Nicotine Policies
Many K-12 school policies respond to student tobacco use and vaping with punitive approaches, such as suspension and exclusion from activities. While these actions are common, they do not address the root causes of nicotine addiction or provide the support students need to quit for good. During this session, an MDHHS tobacco policy consultant provided an overview of best practices for developing a comprehensive K-12 commercial tobacco-free/vape-free policy. The presentation included information…