From Ford Field to the Faculty Lounge: AI, Lions Lessons and a Staff Icebreaker
It’s been said that good teachers borrow cool ideas, and great teachers steal them outright and make them their own. AI has made it easier than ever to synthesize and personalize great ideas. This year, I had the opportunity to provide the back-to-school address to the district staff. As I shared with our team members during that message, having been given this opportunity I knew I had to do something different. Something…
QUICK TIPS September 2025 | School is in Session
Whether you've already had students in your buildings this week or the focus has been on working with your staff to prepare for the year ahead, September is the month when school is fully back in session. Let your Board of Directors help you focus on what needs to be done next month with your September Quick Tips. Todd Distelrath, Principal, Chippewa Valley High School Make sure that all 504 and IEP…
Leadership in Motion | The Season Isn’t Over: Writing the Next Chapter of Your Leadership Story
Navigating Change, Shaping Culture and Driving Impact Opening Reflection The first bell has rung. The halls are full. The plays you planned are now in motion. But the season is long. A great opening drive does not guarantee a strong finish. The real work begins now, in the daily grind where culture is tested, not just celebrated. The Detroit Lions know this well. Their transformation wasn’t defined by one draft, one press…
Start Strong: Practical Tools to Tackle Student Vaping in Your School
Vaping is showing up in every school, and principals are being asked to lead the response. Three free webinars through our Partners at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services this September will give you practical tools and resources to support students right away. Helping Students Break Free from Vaping: Two Free Webinars for Principals The start of a new school year is always filled with energy, but it also brings…
The Linchpin Relationship: Superintendent and Secondary Principal
Heidie Ciesielski is the MASSP Associate Director of Accreditation and Certification (also a Previous Superintendent and Secondary School Leader) The success of any school district hinges on countless factors, from dedicated teachers to supportive communities. However, a particularly crucial, yet often understated, element is the dynamic relationship between the Superintendent and their secondary principals. This unique partnership, built on mutual respect and clear communication, can be the cornerstone of a thriving middle…
Making Learning Personal
August is Personalized Learning Month, a great time to reflect on how we're tailoring education to meet the unique needs of every student. This approach embraces student voice, provides unbiased support, and focuses on mastery rather than seat time. By offering all kinds of opportunities and experiences, personalized learning ensures that learners can reach their full potential. Personalized Learning in 2025-2026 While no two schools will have the same approach to personalized…
Leadership in Motion | From Plays to Practice: Making Culture Stick
Opening Reflection The first weeks of school feel like game day. The hallways are buzzing, classrooms are full, and all the preseason planning is finally in motion. But here’s the truth: The real test of leadership isn’t what you launch in August, but what is still alive in October, January and beyond. The Detroit Lions learned the same lesson last season. Their transformation didn’t happen because of one great draft class or…
Annual Certification Reminder: What Principals Need to Know in 2025
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has released its annual Certification Reminder and Requirements memo to districts, ISDs and PSAs. While this communication is directed at superintendents and HR staff, principals play a direct role in preventing certification lapses that can disrupt classrooms and carry costly consequences. Key Takeaways from the 2025 MDE Memo Certificates Expire on June 30 — All teaching certificates (except the one-year temporary credential) expire on June 30,…
Michigan School Meals: What’s Certain, What’s Not for 2025-26
Whether Michigan students will continue receiving free breakfast and lunch all school year will depend on decisions yet to be made in Lansing. The Michigan School Meals program is fully funded through September 30, 2025. After that date, the future of the program depends on whether the Legislature passes a FY 2026 state school aid budget that includes continued funding. While the uncertainty is frustrating for schools and families alike, districts still…
Leadership in Motion | Built to Last: Embedding Culture That Survives the Scoreboard
Opening Reflection As the Lions’ incredible season came to a close, I couldn’t help but see the parallels between their transformation and the work we’re doing in schools. The Lions are still becoming, not yet where they want to be, but far from where they started. Their playoff loss was disappointing. But their season? It was a masterclass in transformation. Over four years, they didn’t just shift their record. They reshaped their…