Region 10 Shows Us the Power of Principal-Lawmaker Partnerships: Here’s How to Start Yours
On a vibrant fall morning in Dearborn, school leaders from across Region 10 gathered at Edsel Ford High School for a dynamic and solutions-focused MASSP regional meeting. The event was hosted by principal Rima Hassan and organized in partnership with Region 10 Representative Jay Vesperman, Woodhaven High School Principal, and MASSP At-Large Board Member Nicole Rabac, Woodworth Middle School Principal. The day’s agenda reflected the priorities of today’s school leaders, with collaborative…
Leadership in Motion | Intent vs. Behavior: Closing the Leadership Credibility Gap
Navigating Change, Shaping Culture and Driving Impact Opening Reflection Last month, we explored how trust multiplies speed, how it lowers friction and accelerates progress in every corner of a school. But speed without credibility doesn’t last. Stephen M. R. Covey writes, “We judge ourselves by our intent, but others judge us by our behavior.” That line stopped me in my tracks because it perfectly captures the leadership tension every principal faces. We…
Federal Shutdown to Disrupt Food Assistance Beginning Nov. 3
By Colin Ripmaster, Deputy Executive Director and Bob Kefgen, Associate Director of Government Relations As the federal government shutdown enters its fifth week, the USDA has instructed all states, including Michigan, to pause the issuance of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits starting November 1. SNAP helps nearly 1.4 million Michiganders, including about 492,000 children, put food on the table each month. In Michigan, benefits are automatically issued directly to recipients' EBT…
Refreshing Roles: Re-Evaluating Responsibilities to Re-Energize Your Team
Every so often, it is worth hitting “refresh,” not just on your inbox, but on the roles and responsibilities of those you work alongside every day. As principals, we know how easy it is for duties to expand, overlap and evolve without much reflection. Taking time to intentionally evaluate who does what and why can boost empowerment, reduce burnout, and bring renewed energy to your leadership team. Step 1: Pause and Reflect…
QUICK TIPS November 2025 | Time to Check In and Show Gratitude
November brings cooler days and the wrap-up of the first quarter. It’s a season that often brings the very real fatigue of fall, but also a chance to pause in gratitude for the hard work of staff, the growth of students, and the support of families. With a holiday break on the horizon, this month’s checklist will help you stay focused by keeping up with teacher observations and feedback, reviewing student progress…
Beyond the Desk: A Strategic Approach to Showing Up – Why Principals Belong on Field Trips
In the bustling world of education, it's easy for a school principal to get caught up in the day-to-day demands of managing a building. Schedules, budgets, discipline—the list goes on. But what if one of the most impactful things a principal could do has nothing to do with a spreadsheet or a meeting? What if it's as simple as getting on a school bus? The image of a principal on a field…
Learning with Intention in the Age of AI
I had the chance to hear Vriti Saraf present at the ASU+GSV conference last spring, and her focus on AI literacy and redefining 21st-century skills has stuck with me. In her piece, she describes certain uses of AI tools as “counterfeit humans.” They can crank out lesson plans, worksheets, or essays that look fine on the surface, but they can’t replace the deeper value of a real teacher: building relationships, connecting learning…
From the Classroom to the Office, and Back Again
Principal Jessica Vanderbrook left Lake City High for MSU as a teenager and discovered some students had an advantage: AP classes. Returning to LCHS as a teacher, she vowed that wouldn’t happen to other Trojans. The school offers six AP classes – and she teaches one of them. Walking from the office to the conference room her five senior AP Calc students call home, kids say “Hi!” as they pass by after…
Tell Your Story – If you don’t, someone else will
If you do a quick scroll through the headlines of a news website, whether it is local or national, you are bound to stumble across a story about education or a school district. Sharing stories about students and schools is popular reading material! Unfortunately, many of the stories about schools that you will find in the news are not always, or sometimes ever, positive stories. I believe that every district and every…
MiCAREER: The Grant-Funded Solution for Addressing Rural Staffing Shortages
The Michigan Consortium for Addressing Rural Education Expansion and Retention (MiCAREER) is asking to connect with MASSP members, offering a vital resource to help fill vacant teaching and administrative positions, particularly within rural school districts. Funded through a Michigan Department of Education (MDE) grant, MiCAREER provides no cost pathways to credentials. This collaboration network actively partners with districts, ISDs, and ESDs to assist in recruiting efforts. MiCAREER helps districts staff critical roles by seeking…