NASSP Brings LGBTQ Support to Capitol Hill

NASSP brought its support for LGBTQ students to Capitol Hill for an October 4 briefing in cooperation with the Human Rights Campaign. NASSP President Christine Handy moderated the panel discussion of students and school leaders that underscored the importance of school culture and revealed the policy support principals require to create the right conditions in schools. “Our dream is that every school in America will develop every ounce of every student’s human potential,” Handy said in her opening remarks. “But we have a long way to go. With our LGBTQ students especially, we leave mountains of student potential on the table.” View the archived stream of the briefing at nassp.org/LGBTQ.

NASSP Pledges Support for NHS Scholarship Fund

On September 26, at an event overlooking the Capitol in Washington, D.C., CNN Senior Washington Correspondent Joe Johns moderated a conversation between Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Jenny Rodriguez, the national winner of the 2018 National Honor Society (NHS) Scholarship. A group of philanthropists, corporate leaders, education leaders, and alumni gathered to listen to the conversation and honor Rodriguez’s accomplishments. “I grew up knowing I wanted to go to college, but not being able to pay for it meant I had to work even harder,” said Rodriguez. She shared that the NHS Scholarship made it possible “to attend the college of my choice.” At the event, NASSP Executive Director and NHS Fund Board of Directors President JoAnn Bartoletti announced the dedication of $20 million over the next 10 years to the NHS Scholarship Fund—a 20 percent increase in scholarships from last year. This growth means that every year starting with the class of 2019, at least 600 high school students and members of NHS will be closer to achieving their college dreams.

2019 Advocacy Conference Approaching Fast

At the NASSP Advocacy Conference, principals and school leaders have the opportunity to speak in a unified voice on Capitol Hill to advocate on behalf of critical education issues. Are you interested in advocating on behalf of school leaders, educators, and students? Attend the 2019 NASSP Advocacy Conference, March 18–20, 2019, in the Washington, D.C., metro area. The conference brings together state education leaders, including NASSP state coordinators; state principal association executive directors, officers, and staff; and volunteer advocates from around the country. The conference is open to anyone willing to advocate on behalf of school leaders and the students they serve. For more information and to sign up to become an advocate, visit nassp.org/advocacyconf.