Being named an NHS scholarship finalist is a prestigious honor that comes with the obvious perk of dollars toward a college education. But did you know that finalists also receive the trip of a lifetime to Washington, D.C.? Every spring 25 high school seniors designated as finalists come together to meet each other in person, learn from one another, and hear from inspirational speakers.

Today, NASSP and 45 state school leader associations sent a letter to Congress opposing the House of Representatives’ FY 2024 appropriations proposal that would cut education funding by 28%. Read the letter below and join your association in sending a pre-written message to your representatives urging them to fully fund vital K–12 programs.

Once in a while, life gives us an opportunity to re-evaluate our mindset, think bigger, dive deeper into multiple perspectives, and learn life-changing skills that we’ll carry with us forever. For me, this opportunity came at NASSP’s LEAD Spark Conference in January 2023.

Recently, NASSP members have made headlines for their innovative ways to create and sustain a strong school culture. Check out these stories—and take your school culture to the next level this year.

Jump-start your new role with Jennifer Warren’s “Principal Bad@Ssery: Five Fundamentals for a Phenomenal First Year.” Whether you’re a new principal or transitioning to a new campus, this session is your key to an exceptional first year. Spaces for this practical, ideas-packed session are filling up fast at the National School Leader Conference from 7/12–15 in Denver, CO. Grab your spot and begin your journey to leaving a lasting legacy!

With the start of the school year just around the corner, I want to share a note of encouragement with my colleagues around the country. First off, I want to acknowledge how hard you work in such a difficult job. The responsibilities of a school leader are staggering. In my first several years as an administrator, I had a poster on my wall that showed the exponential increase in school leadership duties from the common school movement to today. It is mind-blowing in its complexity. And yet, we still have the same 168 hours in a week. In 2017, pre-pandemic, the U.S. Department of Education shared an example of “A Day in the Life of a High School Principal” for a glimpse into today’s realities.