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When I was a building principal and I was having a tough day I would escape by going into classrooms to be inspired by the great things the students and staff were doing … and that hasn’t changed. My favorite aspect of my job as Executive Director at MASSP: school visits. I enjoy learning about what principals are doing and thinking about how MASSP can elevate member voice, share best practices and…

Think back. Think back to your days in school. Not present day, where you are leading your building, greeting your students at the door, facilitating instructional growth, etc. But rather when you were the one seated in the desk, you were the one taking notes/quizzes/exams & there was a teacher in front of you. Of all of the educators you had the pleasure of learning from, K-12, which one sticks out? Which…

Finding Purpose: The Key to Student MotivationIn the bustling hallways of our high schools, amidst the cacophony of locker doors slamming and the chatter of students, there lies a silent question: “What is our purpose?” As educators, we often grapple with this existential query, not just for ourselves but for our students. The answer, as I've come to realize, is the cornerstone of motivation and the driving force behind every successful educational…

Growing up as Majiikwewis (an eldest daughter) on the Bay Mills Indian Community in the Upper Peninsula, Lake Fenton High School Principal Kate VanHouten was in only the second generation of indigenous people to attend a Brimley area public school off of the reservation. They did not offer Ojibwe culture classes or language classes there.  “Most of my education for my culture came from my mother and my community, my tribe,” she…

The esports industry is growing exponentially worldwide. According to multiple studies, the United States is estimated to hold the largest esports market share by the end of 2023. In Michigan, we are one of the leading states collegiately – not only with player scholarships but with the variety of degree programs offered by multiple institutions throughout the state.  To ensure high school students are able to use the variety of opportunities available…

Word has been spreading around the State about the untimely passing of retired Lake Orion Principal Steve Hawley. Steve did not retire willingly; he still had several great years left to give to his school, but he had to leave to focus all his energy on his beloved family and fighting the cancer that ultimately took his life. Steve and I became colleagues and friends when I served as Principal of Rochester High…

With the school year well underway, principals must continue to be cognizant of their special education and Section 504 obligations to students. Although many of these requirements are handled by special education staff or your school’s Section 504 Coordinator, all administrators must remember the school’s child find obligations. As the school year progresses, principals already have a lot on their plate. It is imperative, however, that you – and all staff –…

MASSP, in partnership with the GELN and the College Board has hosted a series of webinars focusing on the College Board's digital assessment suite. Those sessions were provided free to anyone who registered. These webinars are specific to the Fall Testing external of MDE. Here are the direct links to those webinars:   Part 1: SSD and Registration (non-MDE assessments)  Part 2: The Test Day Part 3: Tech Coordinator Part 2 (Redux): The Test Day Part 4: Practice, Practice, Practice…

(listen to this article; recorded with AI-generated AudioRead) I enjoy making up my own words. Not like my mother enjoys making up lyrics to songs when she doesn't know the words – although I admittedly do enjoy doing that on occasion too, and not like Lewis Carroll with his “portmanteaus” (words smashed together to make new words, like “smog” for example), but making up my own words to describe things. Defining the…