Bring the Hour of AI to Your Classroom this December
Artificial intelligence is transforming how we live, learn, and work, yet most students have never explored how it really works or how it impacts their lives. This December during Computer Science Education Week (Dec 8–14), join educators across Michigan for the Hour of AI, a free hands-on experience designed to demystify AI and inspire curiosity about the future of technology. Join over 60 teachers already committed to host an event in Michigan! …
Stengthening Leaders | All administrators deserve someone to walk alongside them at every stage of the leadership journey
Walk into any thriving school, and you’ll find one thing at the center of its success: a confident, supported building leader. But confidence doesn’t just appear the day someone gains the title “Principal” or “Assistant Principal,” it’s learned and developed over time. Think about those first weeks in a new administrative role — the learning curve is steep. Overnight, you’re expected to be the visionary, the crisis responder, the culture builder, the…
Membership Matters | Two Things I’m Thankful For: Our Members and Our Board
As we head into the season of gratitude, I have been reflecting on what makes MASSP so special, and two things rise to the top. First, our incredible members who continuously share their expertise, challenges, and ideas to help shape the work we do at MASSP. Second, our dedicated Board of Directors, who give their time and energy to ensure that principals and assistant principals across the state have meaningful opportunities to…
Why the Michigan Leadership Fellows Was a Turning Point in My Leadership
When I joined the Michigan Leadership Fellows, I expected to grow. What I didn’t anticipate was how profoundly the experience would shape the leader I am today and prepare me for the realities of the principalship.One of the most impactful aspects of the fellowship was the collaboration with leaders from across Michigan. Working alongside peers from a wide range of communities broadened my understanding of equity work and exposed me to diverse…
Principal Pulse Check | We asked: What is one thing your staff needs more of before winter break? (And how do you plan to provide it, if you can?)
Check out responses from your peers. Next week, consider contributing an idea and resource for a new next prompt. Positive praise. I am leaving sticky notes on their desks as I stop in rooms throughout my walk throughs. I am being intentional to notice things they are doing that have a positive impact on students and being sure to note it so they know I see it. – Amanda Theuerkorn Horizon Elementary,…
Section 27h Mentoring Grants Are Being Released: What Principals Need to Know
Districts that applied for Section 27h Mentoring and Induction funding will begin receiving individual notifications from the Michigan Department of Education starting Monday, November 17 and continuing through Friday, November 21. The Department needs to send these notices manually to all applicants, so districts may learn of the decision at different times throughout the week. A statewide press release from MDE will follow once all notifications have been sent. Payments for awarded…
From Broad Goals to Targeted Action: How Member Feedback Shaped MASSP’s Refined Policy Priorities
Over the past year, MASSP has worked closely with members to clarify how best to reduce state mandates and regulatory barriers facing Michigan’s secondary schools. This effort directly supports MASSP’s broader strategic plan by centering policy advocacy on enabling school leaders to focus on students and learning while fostering innovation. And with your help we have identified four refined policy priorities that will guide our work through the remainder of the 2025–26…
This Week in Politics in 5 Sentences (or Fewer)
Most of the political news happened outside the state legislature this week, though the House Education Committee did hold a hearing Wednesday morning to continue discussion of HB 5044, a bill that would require districts to allow private healthcare providers into schools to deliver medically necessary services (the bill is nominally targeted at behavioral health services in schools, though the language of the bill is much broader), and the Senate Regulatory Affairs…
Honoring Dave Powers: Fourteen Years of Inspiring Michigan’s Future Leaders
A Vision Takes Shape In early 2011, MASSP Executive Director Wendy Zdeb envisioned a way to strengthen Michigan’s educational leadership pipeline by creating a high-quality training program, designed and facilitated by experienced practitioners, that would result in MDE-required administrator certification for aspiring school leaders. That vision became the Path to Leadership program.To bring this program to fruition, Wendy turned to trusted educators. Among those early contributors was Dave Powers, then President of…
Leadership Lives Here | Leading with Gratitude: The November Perspective Shift
As the calendar turns to November, the vibrant energy of the school year's beginning often gives way to the gritty reality of everyday operations. For us as educational leaders, it's easy to get caught in the whirlwind of logistics: staff meetings, teacher observations, challenging student issues, and the countless demands that fill our calendars. The days can feel long, and the list of "problems to solve" seems to grow rather than shrink.…