Principal of the Year Awards

  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Principal of the Year Awards

Each year, MASSP receives many entries for our Administrator of the Year awards which feature nominations of exemplary school leaders at the Middle and High School levels. Award recipients are typically surprised with an award at their school and then honored at our annual EdCon conference for being an outstanding Middle/High School Principal or Assistant Principal.
 
Know an outstanding building leader in Michigan that deserves recognition for all they do? Consider recommending or nominating them for an Administrator of the Year award! What is the difference?
  • Recommendation Form: Suggesting that the candidate/individual’s school/school district consider officially nominating them for an Administrator of the Year Award. Form requests basic information and a few open ended optional recommendation questions/statements. 
  • Nomination Form: Officially submitting the candidate/individual for an Administrator of the Year Award consideration. This form asks more detailed questions about the candidate and has required information and documentation. 
If you have any questions, please email maggie@massp.com or call the MASSP Office at (517) 327-5315.

Nominate an Outstanding Building Leader! 

MASSP & MASC/MAHS have expanded the Administrators of the Year Awards Program honoring a Middle School and High School winner for both the Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year. 

2026 Administrator of the Year Award Program 

Nomination Info Packet with Superintendent Signature Page *

*Note: Superintendent Signature Page is REQUIRED for the Nomination Form. It is highly recommended you review the entire packet before submitting the nomination form.

REMINDER: The Recommendation Form is for suggesting a candidate/individual’s school/school district consider officially nominating them for an award while the Nomination Form is officially submitting the candidate/individual for award consideration.


2026 HS/MS POY & APOY Timeline & Process Updated

  • September 2025
    • Nomination Forms are Due for the 2026 MS/HS POY/APOY
    • MASC/MAHS Selection Committee convenes and selects top 3 candidates as finalists to be sent to the MASSP Selection Committee to review.
    • MASSP Selection Committee receives materials to review finalists for all four awards and vote on winner. 
  • October 2025
    • Nominees & Finalists recognized in Headlines & Social Media
    • Winner, other nominees and nominators for all awards will be notified by mid October of the application status. Announcement of all four awards (MS/HS APOY & POY) will happen by the end of October through early November 2025.
  • November 2025
    • Winners will be recognized in an email to membership and on social media.
  • December 15, 2025 | All national award applications are due. 
  • February 2026 | Winners recognized (if their school is attending) at the MASC/MAHS Student Leadership State Conference
  • March 2026
    • 2026 National ML/HS POY and APOY Finalists announced by NASSP
  • April 2026 | NASSP Celebration for all Four Award Categories
    • NASSP recognizes all state award winners
    • NASSP announces with National Winners for all four award categories
  • June 2026 | MASSP recognition at EdCon (in-person) of the four Michigan winners: Middle & High School 2026 POY & APOY.
  • July 2026
    • NASSP National Conference
    • National Conference both State APOYs & POYs invited and registration provided by NASSP.

2025-26 HS/MS POY & 2025 HS/MS APOY | Timeline & Process Updated

  • February 2025 | Winners recognized (if able) at the MASC/MAHS Student Leadership State Conference
  • Spring 2025 |
    • April 2025 | State Assistant Principal of the Year Celebration
    • NASSP announces finalists for the National 2025 Assistant Principal of the Year Awards
    • (Then later on in Spring) NASSP announces the 2025 NAPOY Middle and High School award winners during in-person celebration event
  • June 2025 |
    • NASSP announces finalists for the National 2025-26 Principal of the Year Awards
    • MASSP recognition at EdCon (in-person) of the four Michigan winners: Middle & High School 2025-26 POY & 2025 APOY.
  • July 2025 |
    • NASSP National Conference
    • National Conference both State APOYs & POYs invited and different items are covered depending on the award. 
    • NASSP announces of 2025-26 National Principal of the Year award winners at the Recognition Gala (in-person)

Principal of the Year Award


Assistant Principal of the Year