Walking the dirt street to reach my house, I hear a homophobic slur emanate from the car driving past me. A meek 12-year-old, I rush on in fear—fear of what they would do if they knew how right they were. “How do they know?” I ask myself. “Am I too masculine? Too feminine?” My identity […]
Category: Mental Health/Whole School Wellness/SEL
This Pride Month Holding Space for Us All
BelongingLGBTQ+LGBTQ+ School Leaders Networkmental health/wellnessStudent leadershipstudent voice
Celebrating Leadership and an Authentic Life This Pride Month
I have fallen in love with comic books. With the ability of creators to tell complete stories using text and art, color and space. And, of course, with the superhero. The character that is always brave or strong, selfless and courageous, adaptable, driven, inquisitive. The appeal of the superhero is understandable. The motivations, the skill […]
LGBTQ+LGBTQ+ School Leaders Network
Promoting Student Voice Through Thrive Thursday
Every year before school begins at First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach, VA, we review our school improvement plan, including elements like on-time graduation rate, numeracy and literacy scores, and chronic absenteeism. As with many schools, since the pandemic, our chronic absenteeism rate has steadily increased, and we are also combatting a significant increase […]
mental health/wellnessSchool LeadershipStudent leadershipstudent voice
Why I’m Part of the Student Leadership Network on Mental Health
Throughout my time in high school, I have learned that mental health is not a goal, object, or buzzword but rather an active practice. Taking care of your mental well-being requires self-awareness, patience, and reflection. It may sound daunting, but there are plenty of tools that can help.
mental health/wellnessStudent leadership
An Inspired Approach to SEL
As a secondary school leader, you know how challenging it can be to bring change into the classroom. You may also be wondering if it’s worth the time to incorporate social and emotional learning (SEL) activities. We have good news:
Mental healthselsocial emotional learning
Creating an Environment That Supports Whole School Wellness at Ignite 2023
Schools have a responsibility to promote and support the mental health and well-being of both students and adults, which leads to deeper learning and success. As a school leader, you’ll want to attend Ignite 2023—NASSP’s National School Leader Conference—July 12–15, in Denver, CO. The conference will offer dozens of sessions that will help you learn […]
Ignite23
Empowering Teens with SEL Skills May Help Them Resist Drugs and Vaping
Teens love to push boundaries and test limits. And while this may be frustrating to parents and educators, it is a crucial aspect of their learning and development. Through trial and error, they can better understand themselves and their world.
Mental healthWellness
The Use of Restorative Practices: A Work in Progress
In honor of AP Week, School of Thought asked me to reflect on work that I’m most proud of as a school leader. I have chosen to share about implementing restorative practices, which many of my colleagues are also working hard to get right in schools across the country.
Assistant Principals NetworkMental healthmental health/wellnessNASSP Assistant Principals of the Year Alumni Networkschool climateschool cultureSchool Leadership
Transgender Day of Visibility Brings Voice to School Leaders
Every day, I lead a community of students, teachers, and families who come together to create an environment where holistic, rigorous instruction is intertwined with a deliberate approach to empowering students to make the world a more just place. At the International Community School, a K–5 public charter school in Decatur, GA, we believe that […]
AccessBelonginginclusionLGBTQLGBTQ School Leaders Networkschool climateschool culture
Elevating the Importance of Teen Mental Health
Today is World Teen Mental Wellness Day. In honor of it, I want to share how school budget cuts inadvertently led me to take a closer look at the importance of mental health. And for that, I am eternally grateful.