In an inspiring display of collaboration and innovation, three school leaders who met as strangers in the NASSP Ambassador program joined forces to address a critical need in education: bringing joy back to schools. Meeting in person for the first time minutes before their session at UNITED: The National Conference on School Leadership, they led a group of their peers through turn-key strategies to improve student and staff mental health.
The trio, consisting of principals from elementary, middle, and high schools, found common ground in their passion for education and the challenges they face daily. They met as members of The School Leader Professional Learning Group, an ambassador group assembled to guide how NASSP can help provide the best professional learning to school leaders across the nation. The group meets monthly online to build a robust virtual resource library and help create one-of-a-kind professional learning for their peers.
Jay Apostol, principal of Monett Middle School in Monett, MO, reflected on the personal connections made through the program. “It’s always nice to put a name with a face, but even better when you meet them in person. You can get to know them on the screen, but when you see what they stand for and how they present, it’s great meeting in person an hour before our presentation.”
In the midst of forging both bonds and professional development, they discovered an opportunity to share their experiences and insights with a broader audience.
The group’s focus on mental health and school culture emerged organically from their discussions. “One of the things that kept coming up was the importance of mental health,” said Michael Sedlak, director of human resources for the Twinsburg City School District in Twinsburg, OH. “We span elementary, middle, and high school, and we love what we do. We thought, ‘Hey, let’s address mental health.’ We knew it would be important for others to listen to and learn from. We weren’t 100% the experts, so we designed a group similar to our ambassador meetings where we could bring people together to share what works.”
The collaboration process involved numerous Zoom meetings and brainstorming sessions, allowing the principals to share ideas and strategies across experiences. This cross-pollination of ideas proved invaluable, demonstrating the power of networking within the NASSP community.
Christopher Mayes, principal of Sherwood Forest Elementary in New Orleans, LA, stressed the importance of active participation in NASSP. “If you’re ignoring the email blasts, missing out on free Leadership Networks, and seeking out amazing learning opportunities, you need to get involved. Believe it or not, it’s not an extra thing, it’s not time-consuming, and it’s incredibly valuable. Your mind will be blown by the experiences you have in common with principals from Alaska to Maine, knowing that they’re going through the same challenges you are. To have the thought partners, the camaraderie, the friendships that are built out of this organization are lifelong and well worth the investment.”
For Mayes, the experience has reinforced the value of NASSP in combating the isolation often felt by school leaders. “Don’t stay isolated, don’t stay in the lonely position that is leadership,” he urged. “There are so many people doing the same work that you’re doing, and they can give you a warm hug when you really need it.”