The Future-Ready Principal Is Not the Person With All the Answers
In recent conversations with school leaders, I have watched the same questions surface again and again. What should students be allowed to use? What should teachers be expected to do? Do we need a policy? Are we moving too slowly? Are we moving too fast? You can feel the pressure behind those questions. Not because these leaders are resistant to change, but because they understand the weight of getting it wrong. Their…
The MASSP AI Chatbot is Ready to Help
Finding the right resource on a website shouldn’t feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Whether you’re looking for an upcoming event, legal resource, professional learning opportunity, membership information, or simply trying to figure out who to contact, we know your time is valuable. That’s why MASSP launched our AI Chatbot earlier this year. Designed to help members and website visitors quickly find information, discover resources, and navigate everything MASSP…
Meeting the Moment: Reimagining MTSS for Secondary Schools
Michigan's PA 146 has accelerated the conversation around Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports, placing renewed attention on how middle and high schools identify and support students who need additional help. Yet for many secondary leaders, one question remains: What does high-quality MTSS actually look like in a middle or high school? Research continues to point to the same conclusion. Strong MTSS systems begin with strong Tier 1 instruction, but many secondary schools still struggle…
August 2026 QUICK TIPS | Back to Basics
At the end of each summer, administrators have all the opportunities a new year brings to establish a team culture, prepare for what's to come and collaborate with colleagues to ensure everything that can be taken care of before students show up is done. Take this time to make your lists and check them twice – we want 2026-2027 to be oh, so nice! Amy Pashak, Principal, Walled Lake Western High School…
Leadership in Motion | Reality Always Gets a Vote: Leadership Begins When Plans Meet Reality
Leadership has a way of teaching the same lesson over and over again. Reality always gets a vote. A new initiative begins with optimism. The team has invested hours thinking through the details. The planning meetings have been productive. The implementation timeline is clear. The first staff meeting goes well, and people leave energized by the possibilities ahead. There is a genuine sense that the work is off to a strong start.…
That Was Great | Campers Take What They Learn into Life
The first week of Michigan Student Leadership Camp back in 2016 changed Paige Weber’s life. This senior counselor said camp expanded her world in ways she never imagined it would, meeting people from backgrounds different from her own, building lifelong friendships, and learning lessons that shaped who she would become. With three years as a camper and seven on staff, she’s not only supporting students at camp, but also in her own…
The More You Know: New Laws for 2026-27
A handful of new laws take effect for the first time during the 2026-27 school year. Principals are likely already aware of—and may already be prepared for—some or all of these changes. Still, they are worth reviewing as the school year begins. The good news is that not every change creates a major new compliance burden and the biggest changes will provide principals with leverage for reducing disruptions caused by cell phones…
How Early Healthcare Career Exploration Shapes Students’ Futures
When Zainab Ahmed first began exploring healthcare careers, she thought she already knew where her future was headed. Like many students interested in healthcare, she had her sights set on becoming a physician. But it wasn't until she stepped outside the classroom that she truly began to understand the breadth of opportunities available—and where she fit within them. Through Michigan HOSA's Clinical Specialty competitive event, Ahmed shadowed several professionals before discovering which…
Start the Year With Students, Not Just Plans
One of my favorite parts of Summer Leadership Camp is how honest students get once they settle in. It usually doesn’t happen on the first day. The first day is busy. Students are figuring out where to go, who they know, what council they are in, and whether they’re going to like this whole camp thing. But by the middle of the week, once they have laughed a little, taken a few…
Action Required: Verify Your School’s Contact for the Michigan School Census Literacy and School Library Study
As part of the FY 2025–2026 Michigan School Aid Budget, the Michigan Legislature provided funding to Wayne State University to conduct the Michigan School Census 2026: A Michigan Literacy and School Library Study. The first step in this statewide effort is contact verification. On August 11, 2026, the lead administrator for each Michigan public school will receive a personalized email from noreply@alchemer.com asking them to simply verify or update the contact information…