A Unified Approach: Blending Management and Leadership to Build a Positive-Sum School Culture
For far too long, school leadership has been framed as an either/or choice—are you a manager or a leader? Are you focused on compliance or innovation? Are you maintaining systems or inspiring change? These false dichotomies trap us in a zero-sum mindset, where every improvement in one area is assumed to come at the expense of another. But just as education itself must move beyond the outdated practice of ranking and sorting…
What Schools Need to Know About HB 5549 and Threat Assessment Teams
By Tom Lietz, MASSP Associate Director for Training and Development, and Bob Kefgen, MASSP Associate Director for Government Relations. A package of school safety laws that passed during the 2024 lame duck session are going to require some advanced planning and implementation work from Michigan's school leaders. Over the next several weeks, MASSP will be doing a deep dive into the details of these new requirements from a principal's perspective and covering…
Governor Whitmer’s State of the State: Key Education Takeaways
Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s 2025 State of the State Address touched on several issues that impact Michigan’s secondary schools, including student mental health and wellness, school accountability, and postsecondary opportunities. Proposed incentives for limiting cell phone use, a call for additional vaping regulations, and a focus on engaging young men with the state's scholarship programs all found a place in Wednesday's speech and all could have direct implications for high school administrators. With…
QUICK TIPS | March 2025
Each month your MASSP Board of Directors creates a list of Quick Tips to accompany the month's Principal Checklist. Check out what your leaders and representatives have to say about things to keep in mind to be the best leader you can as we head into spring. JoLynn Clark, Principal, Frankenmuth High School Obtain input from instructional staff (teachers, paraprofessionals, etc.) on preferences and/or considerations to be taken under advisement while working…
Aligning Agility with Long-Term Strategy: How School Leaders Can Avoid Moving in the Wrong Direction
Chaos. Complexity. Collapse. These words may feel all too familiar right now, especially for middle and high school principals. You’re juggling shifting mandates, staffing shortages, evolving student needs, and countless new priorities. In such a rapidly changing landscape, agility—your ability to pivot quickly—can feel like the only way to survive. But agility alone isn’t enough. Moving fast in the wrong direction can waste precious resources and demoralize your team. True agility means…
Introducing CODE & CONQUER: A Statewide Middle School Game Design Challenge
The Michigan High School Esports League (MHSEL) is excited to introduce CODE & CONQUER, a new statewide video game design challenge for Michigan middle school students in grades 6-8. This competition provides an opportunity for students to develop critical thinking, creativity, and technical skills through game development. Engaging Students Through Game Design CODE & CONQUER is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of coding in a way that is engaging and…
Navigating New Requirements: A Principal’s Guide to Native American Regalia Policies
By Joe Esper, Principal, Traverse City West Senior High School House Bill 4854, sponsored by state Representative Helena Scott, establishes new protections for Native American students participating in school ceremonies of honor. Beginning April 2, 2025, all Michigan schools must allow Native American students to wear traditional regalia and carry culturally significant objects at events such as graduation and honor society inductions. This law affirms the rights of Native American students to…
Unlock Grant Opportunities for Your School with MCAN – Apply by February 25!
The Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) has announced three exciting grant opportunities to help schools, districts, and community partners increase postsecondary access and enrollment for Michigan students. These grants provide valuable funding to launch or expand programs that prepare students for life after high school, supporting the state's goal of achieving 60% of adults with a postsecondary credential by 2030 (Sixty by 30). Don’t Miss Out! The application deadline for all three…
Reclaiming 13 Weeks: Practical Time Management for Secondary School Leaders
If you’re like most school leaders, your days start with good intentions but ends in exhaustion. You’re constantly juggling meetings, emails, classroom walkthroughs, teacher concerns, and unexpected crises. By the time you sit down to focus on a high-impact task—analyzing student data, designing a professional learning plan, or planning a strategic initiative—you’re interrupted by another urgent request. You’re not alone in facing these challenges. Research by The Economist Intelligence Unit has found…
Navigating Teacher Evaluations: A Principal’s Guide to Compliance and Excellence
In the state of Michigan, teacher evaluation has not only become a mandated process but also is a cornerstone for maintaining high educational standards throughout the state. Governed by Revised School Code (“RSC”) Section 1249 (MCL 380.1249) and the District’s collective bargaining agreement, the evaluation process requires the involvement of both teachers and administrators to ensure that the system is rigorous, transparent, and fair. Collective Bargaining Agreement Prior to February 2024, the…