Other schools might be having trouble filling staff vacancies, but that’s not an issue at Haines City High School in Polk County, FL. We’ve been fully staffed since before the pandemic, and I don’t expect that to change.
(more…)School of Thought Blog
A Homegrown Recruitment Program Helps Ease Staff Shortages
Data Rich, Information Poor: Untangling the Web of Student Information
You work in a world that runs short on a lot of things – time, money, staff, resources.
One thing you’re never in short supply of? Data. From student enrollment, attendance, grades, test scores, discipline referrals, and so much more, it can become overwhelming to keep it all straight.
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My “Go-To” Tools for Leading My School
At the Maine Principals’ Association conference last month, I spoke about what I feel are the most important tools in an administrator’s toolbox. These are the tools I’ve relied on in my 28-year career as a school leader. As the school year draws to a close and you take some much-needed time to rest and reflect this summer, I want to share them with you.
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Highlights from Leading Forward: The Listening and Learning Tour
NASSP President Gregg Wieczorek has now visited more than 35 states as part of Leading Forward: The Listening and Learning Tour. In April, he visited schools in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Below are brief highlights from the latest stops.
(more…)Five Highlights from Trailblazing Leadership Week
A week of leadership, learning, and recognition for dedicated school and student leaders ends today. Here we share some of the experiences that made them feel seen and heard as they were honored for blazing trails in education.
(more…)NHS Gala Celebrates Outstanding Student Leaders
For a select group of young people, it was a night to remember in Washington, DC. Inside a hotel ballroom Monday evening, with proud advisers, parents, and principals in attendance, NASSP honored the 25 winners of the 2022 National Honor Society (NHS) scholarships. The event kicked off this year’s National Student Leadership Week, whose theme of “Trailblazing Leadership” was particularly apt given the challenges that students have faced in the wake of the pandemic.
(more…)NASSP Members Tell U.S. Secretary of Education That American Rescue Plan Worked
At a day-long meeting yesterday at the U.S. Department of Education, around 60 school leaders shared their experiences using COVID-relief funding to help their students and offered their perspectives on the challenges that remain. They also participated in workshops on student wellness, equity, and educator burnout, among other topics. The convening kicked off NASSP’s Trailblazing Leadership Week in Washington, D.C., in which nationally recognized school leaders and student leaders are advocating for the needs of students and educators at the national level.
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Proactively Educating Students in a Post-Covid WorldÂ
As the world looks forward to approaching some semblance of normalcy, education proceeds cautiously, with some schools having to continue pivoting to remote instruction as new variants emerge. These last two years have ultimately forced schools to rethink their curricula and instructional materials, while placing more emphasis on soft skills and emotional intelligence.
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NHS Alumni Create Free Resource to Help Students Navigate College Admissions
After they graduate from high school, many National Honor Society (NHS) students continue to find incredible ways to serve their communities. One such student is Robert Wachen. In this blogpost, the NHS alum from Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, MD, and a sophomore at Harvard University, shares his experience developing a website to support high school students through their college application process.
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Taking Pride in a “Pass the Pillow” Drive
I’m the proud adviser of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) chapter at Tipton Middle School (TMS) in Tipton, IN. In January, my students held a pillow drive for a nearby senior assisted living home, Miller’s Merry Manor. We dubbed it the “Pass the Pillow” drive, and it was a success! The drive showed students how small acts of kindness and giving can make a big difference in an elderly person’s life.
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Why Student Protests Are a Valuable Learning Opportunity
At Smoky Hill High School in Aurora, CO, you could say we’re victims of our own success when it comes to student protests. One thing we emphasize in our school is that students need to have a voice. In the grand scheme of things, the school is their school. It’s not my school, it’s not the teachers’ school—it’s the community’s school.
(more…)Learn from Assistant Principals during National Assistant Principals Week
It’s National Assistant Principals Week, a time to celebrate the contributions assistant principals (APs) make to their schools, by ensuring positive cultures for teaching and learning.
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Leadership Network Helps Connect Assistant Principals Across the Country
Assistant principals are a crucial, but sometimes overlooked, part of a well-run school. They take on a variety of important duties that often leave them little time to talk to colleagues and share ideas. NASSP’s Leadership Network for Assistant Principals is designed to help connect APs across the country, who experience many of the same challenges and concerns, regardless of their school’s size or demographics.
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Listening and Learning Tour Continues in Four More States
NASSP President Gregg Wieczorek’s latest school visits on Leading Forward: The Listening and Learning Tour brought him to these four East Coast states in March: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. Below are brief highlights from the latest stops.
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Nominations Are Open for NASSP Board of Directors
If you’ve ever thought it might be interesting and rewarding to serve on the NASSP Board of Directors, now is the time to apply. Nominations to the board are now open to all active members in good standing who are currently serving as principals or assistant principals.
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Join NASSP’s Board of Directors and Make Your Voice Heard
NASSP is currently seeking applications for the Board of Directors. In this post, Dr. Evelyn Edney, principal of the Early College High School at Delaware State University in Dover, DE, reflects on how participation on the board has helped her grow as a leader and better advocate for her community and the profession.
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Embracing the School Leadership Journey
A question that I’m asked many times is how I manage the work-life balance of being a principal. I try not to laugh in response because most times I feel like I’m barely keeping it together. Each day is a juggling act, and some days are much more about surviving than thriving. As I reflect on my career during Women’s History Month, these are the lessons I’ve learned along the way.
(more…)Six Inclusive Practices for School Leadership
According to cognitive scientists, we make most of our decisions without even consciously thinking about them. As a result, it’s important to take note of biases that may be negatively influencing our decision-making.
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Reminding Your AP Students to Focus on Follow Through
There’s no question that it has been another tough year. And the messages we’re sharing with our students are more important than ever.
(more…)A Conference for Women Leaders by Women Leaders
“I have never seen more laughter. People were intensely engaging in conversations, remembering each other from last time they met, and celebrating each other’s accomplishments during the hardest two years of our lives.”
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