The NASSP Experts of the Week blog series amplifies the voices of middle level and high school leaders who address today’s trending topics in education. Featuring principals, assistant principals, and digital principals—often who have won the esteemed Principal of Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, or Digital Principal of the Year award—the blogs offer leadership anecdotes, successes and challenges, and general advice for fellow educators.

Each blog also relates to one of the two domains of NASSP’s Building Ranks™ framework—Building Culture or Leading Learning—and highlights one or more of the 15 leadership dimensions such as equity, global-mindedness, and results-orientation.

Read the latest blog posts from the Experts of the Week series below!

Principal Chris Young: The 2024 NASSP Advocacy Champion of the Year

“She’s super nice. Except when it’s time to fight.” That was NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe praising Melissa Shindel the 2023 Advocacy Champion, as she prepared to pass the torch to Chris Young, the principal of North Country Union High School in Newport, VT. Share via: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Copy Link Email More

Election Advice From an NHS Adviser

At New Albany High School in Ohio, where I’ve served as the National Honor Society adviser for almost six years, I don’t worry that we won’t have enough candidates to fill the six officer positions in our chapter. As a high-performing school, we attract a lot of students who become NHS members, and the biggest […]

Women’s History Month With NASSP

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, NASSP proudly recognizes the contributions of female school and student leaders who are shaping our country’s future. Check out NASSP’s resources curated to help inspire you to lead with diversity, equity, and inclusion at the forefront. Share via: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Copy Link Email More

Join Us at UNITED

This summer, elementary and secondary school leaders will come together in Nashville for an unparalleled opportunity to collaborate toward a common goal. UNITED, The National Conference on School Leadership, marks a joint effort between the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). Taking place July 15–17, […]

Support Your Case to Attend

At UNITED, school leaders of all levels will come together to amplify their collective voices, learn from each other, and find inspiration and fresh ideas to take back to their schools. You can elevate your own leadership by joining us in Nashville this summer, July 15-17, and we can help you build support for your […]

Katherine Holden

Lifetouch Memory Mission 2024

Last month I was afforded the amazing privilege of attending the 2024 Lifetouch Memory Mission, alongside other educators. We spent eight days in Guatemala, with the beautiful members of the Xepatan community, building three additional classrooms to expand their existing school site. While our hope in going was to support education for children there and […]

Cylen Gilmore

Growing as a Leader at LEAD

Joining a leadership program might just be the perfect opportunity for you to explore your potential, develop essential skills, and embark on an exhilarating adventure filled with fun and growth. At last month’s LEAD Conference, I not only got to embark on an amazing experience in Washington, D.C., but I also got the chance to […]

Five Tips to Better Support Students in the College Application Process

Today’s students face unprecedented levels of technological change, mental health concerns, and record low college admissions rates—among other things—that have made today’s educational environment vastly different from the one their parents grew up in. I’ve seen how these shifts trickle down to daily feelings of anxiety for children and adults alike. Share via: Facebook Twitter […]

Boise High School’s Museum Honors a Rich History and Native Peoples

In a move to create a new school mascot that stopped appropriating Native culture while honoring their original mascot’s legacy, Boise High School transitioned from “The Braves” to “The B.R.A.V.E.,” an acronym for the values of their student body. We contacted former Boise High School Principal Robb Thompson and current Principal Deborah Watts to discuss […]

Three Podcasts for School Leaders on the Go

Finding time to gather insights and inspiration can be a challenge. For your convenience, we’ve curated a selection of podcasts sure to be of interest featuring NASSP Board Member Marcus Belin and State Principals of the Year. Whether you want to learn something new on your morning commute or take a well-deserved break, take a […]

NASSP’s Women in School Leadership Network Wraps Up Inaugural Year

NASSP’s Women in School Leadership Network recently wrapped up its inaugural year. Each month, a core group of about 20 women leaders from around the country connected online to discuss our unique experiences while navigating what has historically been a male-dominated role.  Share via: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Copy Link Email More

A Weekend to Celebrate School Leaders—and College Football

The 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship weekend earlier this month in Houston, TX, was the experience of a lifetime. A weekend where educators were celebrated for their distinguished achievements. A weekend of learning, networking, and collaboration with leaders in their field. A weekend that I will never forget. Share via: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Copy […]

Getting the Right Grant Begins With Early Groundwork

The Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA) recently secured a Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education. For Alaskan educators, that means improved professional development, higher compensation, and a better chance of staying in the classroom. We talked with ACSA Grant Director Sam Jordan to discuss this achievement and […]

Mia Riley

How I Helped Spread the Word as an NASSP Ambassador

Five months ago, I joined the NHS + NatStuCo Marketing Advisory Council. Why? To be a part of something bigger than myself. The Council is part of NASSP’s Ambassador program, which engages principals, advisers, and students to support NASSP’s mission of lifting school and student leader voices and empowering school leaders and students to lead […]

Kate Williams is the principal of Cordova Jr/Sr High School in Cordova, AK, and an NASSP Ambassador.

What Being an NASSP Ambassador Means to Me

When I applied to be an NASSP Ambassador, I was focused on what I could contribute to the group and on being fully committed to the experience. I knew there would be regular meetings over many months, and I wanted to make sure that I arranged my schedule to participate, which—as all principals know—is sometimes […]

NASSP Principal Recovery Network Resources to Enhance School Safety

Established in April 2019, the NASSP Principal Recovery Network (PRN) is a national network of current and former school leaders who have faced gun violence tragedies. Their mission is twofold: providing immediate and long-term support to school leaders post-crisis, and advocating for national school safety enhancements, violence prevention, and recovery assistance to schools that have […]

Four Free Safety Resources for Schools and Districts 

As we enter the winter season, the safety and well-being of students and staff in our schools and districts remain paramount. But while there are extensive resources out there that address school safety, it can often be overwhelming to find and easily use this information in an organized and meaningful way. To simplify this, here […]

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.   Share via: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Copy Link […]

Jeff Sherrill

Thinking Inside the Box: Because Boxes Are Reality

Recalling the many times in my career that principals and peers challenged me to think outside the box, and then in turn me sharing the same advice with my student leaders, the idea of “thinking inside the box” seems counterintuitive. After all, we want our students to think about the possibilities when faced with hurdles […]

Gaining Perspective From the LEADership Community

Life is a cumulation of the moments we’ve had, with some moments more significant than others. As we accumulate experiences, our lives can transform from just one moment. My life-changing experience involves 500+ student leaders from 50+ states and U.S. territories, all in the heart of Washington, D.C. NASSP’s LEAD Conference held earlier this month […]

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