April is Career Exploration and Awareness Month: Empowering Students for the Workforce of Tomorrow
As part of April’s statewide Career Exploration and Awareness Month, Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) are spotlighting critical tools, programs, and initiatives that help Michiganders prepare for rewarding careers in today’s evolving workforce. For our members, as principals, this is a valuable opportunity to deepen career readiness efforts and connect students to the many pathways Michigan has to offer—college, credentials, career technical education, and more.…
Embracing Discomfort, Overcoming Mental Blocks, and Unlocking Creative Growth
In the dynamic world of education leadership, discomfort isn’t just inevitable—it’s necessary. Whether you’re navigating shifting policies, leading staff through change, or reflecting on your personal growth, discomfort often signals an opportunity for transformation. The ability to sit with discomfort is what separates those who grow from those who stay stuck. Rather than viewing discomfort as a barrier, successful leaders see it as the gateway to breakthroughs in creativity, leadership, and personal…
Gathering Meaningful Feedback from Students: A Key to Effective School Leadership
As educational leaders, we collect feedback from a wide range of stakeholders - district leadership, building staff, parents, community members and more. Sometimes we request this feedback and sometimes it’s offered unsolicited! But how often do we collect the most critical feedback - feedback from our students? Now in my tenth year as a building administrator, I’ve come to view student feedback as one of the most essential tools for leading a…
From Vision to Action: MASSP Board Explores the Future of AI in Education
Last week, members of the MASSP Board of Directors and staff joined me at the ASU+GSV Summit—an international gathering of more than 13,000 education leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers focused on the future of learning, technology, and equity. At the center of this year’s summit was a powerful and timely theme: How artificial intelligence is reshaping education and how school leaders must lead the charge to ensure that transformation is thoughtful,…
Investing in Ourselves to Better Serve Our Schools
I know how hard it can be to step away from our buildings. There’s always something that needs our attention, and it’s easy to feel like we have to be there every moment to keep things running smoothly. Stepping away, even for a short time, can feel uncomfortable — what if something goes wrong? What if we’re needed? The fear of the unknown often keeps us tethered to our desks, our radios…
Beyond Ranking and Sorting: Leading Schools Where All Can Thrive
(A follow-up to A Unified Approach: Blending Management and Leadership for a Positive-Sum School Culture) Historically, our education system has operated as a zero-sum game—one where success for some comes at the expense of others. Schools were not designed to support every student in realizing their full potential, but rather to rank, sort, and separate students into predetermined pathways. As Michael Horn (2022) explains in From Zero Sum to Positive Sum, this…
Good Deal
I want to start this by talking about genuine articles. This article has not been created by AI and is the real deal. Over the years administrators develop tools and strategies that fit their personality and comfort levels. These tools are sharpened and perfected over time and can be extremely useful when navigating difficult conversations and situations. I would like to share with you a couple of stories that helped me develop…
Working Together to Reduce Vaping in Schools MDHHS Tobacco Section
Tobacco control and prevention at Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) focuses on increasing awareness of the adverse health effects of tobacco use in youth. MDHHS Tobacco Section aims to increase evidence-based resources to help facilitate supportive and affirming quit care, prevent initiation, and eliminate exposure to second-and-thirdhand vaping aerosol. The Tobacco Section can provide technical assistance, training, resources, and data to support your efforts addressing vaping and other forms…
Gov. Whitmer Announces Record 60,000 Michigan Students Enrolled in Michigan Achievement Scholarship, Saving More than $4,200 Per Year
Michiganders have saved $252.3 Million on Tuition Through the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, Opening More Pathways to Good-Paying Jobs LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer is highlighting the growing impact of state scholarship programs in making earning a skill certificate and college degree more accessible and affordable for Michigan students and families—opening more pathways to good paying jobs. This spring, nearly 60,000 students are receiving the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, saving Michigan families $252.3 million in…
Tips for Testifying in Court
Tip #1: Be there or be square. Bring a copy of the subpoena with you to the courthouse (or have a copy readily available for virtual proceedings). The subpoena contains valuable information about the date, time, and location of the hearing, as well as the case name and number, and sometimes the name of the judge or hearing officer. This will assist you in seeking directions to the correct courtroom. Allow ample…