PODCASTS FOR LEADERS ON THE GO

Andy Farley accepts the 2024 National Principal of the Year award from NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe, and NASSP President Aaron Huff, right. PHOTOS COURTESY OF NASSP

Podcasts are a great way for busy school leaders to get a dose of inspiration. Here are three podcast episodes featuring NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe and Principals of the Year that offer lots of great insights:

  • The “ThoughtStretchers Education Podcast: A Dispatch From The 2024 Principal Of The Year” features Andy Farley, the 2024 NASSP National Principal of the Year, discussing crucial aspects of student and educator wellness and learning.
  • The Cool Cat Teacher’s “10 Minute Teacher Podcast: Promoting Real World Change and Success in Schools Today” features Misa Sato, the 2023 National Assistant Principal of the Year, talking about expanding her school’s IB Career-Related Program and fostering connections between students, parents, and the wider community.
  • “Education Talk Radio: Celebrating School Leadership with NASSP” features Nozoe reminding us of the important work school leaders do to make a better educational experience for everyone.

Read more at bit.ly/3RlI8PN.

MORE RESOURCES NEEDED TO DEAL WITH GUN VIOLENCE

Michelle Kefford, principal of Parkland High School, far right.

Michelle Kefford, the principal of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, and a member of NASSP’s Principal Recovery Network, testified at a roundtable discussion with Congressional leaders seeking answers to the nation’s epidemic of school shootings. “I can tell you that it’s been almost six years since the most horrific day in our school’s history, and the tragedy still impacts our school community very profoundly, and our recovery efforts are still actively underway,” Kefford said. According to an article in K–12 Dive, she urged more funding to deal with impacts of gun violence. “With so many shootings, there is simply not enough state or federal recovery funding and resources to go around for all of these shattered schools. We need to have resources all along, before tragedies and after tragedies.” Read the article at bit.ly/3teXSMC.

ENSURING SAFE SCHOOLS

While extensive resources exist that address school safety, it can be difficult to find the useful ones. The following can help to ensure a secure and nurturing environment for all students and staff.

IMAGE COURTESY OF NASSP
  • Comprehensive Safety Hub: SchoolSafety.gov
    The federal government has streamlined access to practical, up-to-date safety information, aiding schools in preparing for, managing, and recovering from emergencies. This platform offers tools for school leaders to assess and enhance safety measures, connect with state-specific safety experts, and tailor safety plans to their unique requirements.
  • Enhancing Cybersecurity: Project Cybersafe Schools
    Schools have become targets of ransomware attacks because of their poorly protected networks. Project Cybersafe Schools offers a suite of free cybersecurity solutions for public schools with fewer than 2,500 students, offering faster, safer Internet browsing and email security.
  • AI Integration Guide: A Checklist for K–12
    NASSP is part of a coalition that launched the “K–12 Generative AI Readiness Checklist” for schools and districts. This comprehensive list offers a curated set of questions and considerations to ensure that AI solutions are free from bias or algorithmic discrimination, protect data privacy, and provide a clear understanding of the sources of generated information.

Read more at bit.ly/3GHi50I.

NASSP NETWORK ON MENTAL HEALTH

Trevor Wazzan. PHOTO COURTESY OF TREVOR WAZZAN

Coming out of the pandemic, Trevor Wazzan saw the toll that it had taken on him, his friends, and his peers. “I decided that not only did I want to arm myself with as much knowledge as possible about taking care of my mental health, but I also wanted to help others,” says the senior at Geffen Academy at UCLA in Los Angeles. That activism and initiative led him to a position as co-facilitator of NASSP’s Student Leadership Network on Mental Health. It offers resources on mental health that are accessible to any NHS or National Association of Student Councils (NASC) member. Read more at bit.ly/47TeQPK.