With the holiday season and winter break fast approaching, you as school leaders have time to reflect on where your schools have been and where they’re going. This halfway point of the school year gives you a well-deserved breather where you can take stock of your accomplishments in serving your students, teachers, and communities and confront the challenges that remain.

I, too, will be taking stock this December. It’s been a year since I took the helm at NASSP, and I’m proud of the organization’s budding transformation. We’ve undertaken a comprehensive review of NASSP’s strengths and areas where we can improve. And we’ve implemented a strategic plan that prioritizes engaging with and elevating the voices of school leaders and student leaders. Ultimately, the beating heart of this organization is its members, and we are honored to serve you.

As a former principal, I know being a school leader is a tough job. That’s been especially true in the wake of the pandemic, which has laid bare longstanding inequities throughout our society, including education. It’s also an isolating job. Because you are the leader of your school, you can’t rely on others to make the hard decisions and to guide your schools the best way you know how. But NASSP wants you to know you are not alone.

As an organization, our focus in the coming year will be to continue breaking down barriers between you and your school leader colleagues across the country. We will provide more opportunities so that you can connect with and learn from the very people who know the ins and outs of the job because they walk in your shoes every day. NASSP will be the convener that gives you the professional development you need—the kind of learning that can come only from networking with colleagues whose experiences mirror your own. NASSP is your organization and your professional home away from home, where you can bounce ideas off one another, listen and learn from each other, and simply let your guard down.

We at NASSP recognize just how challenging the job of school leader has become. And we will be leading forward with you every step of the way. Here’s to you and all that we seek to do in 2022!

Sincerely,

Ronn K. Nozoe
CEO, NASSP