A recent publication by the Partnership for Student Success (PSS) at the Johns Hopkins University Everyone Graduates Center highlights several models for how high school students can be meaningfully involved in support roles that foster success for both those giving and receiving support. After all, peer influence is a powerful driver of student engagement and well-being.
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The Giving Tree
I’ve always dreaded winter break. While my classmates looked forward to family celebrations, I prepared for loneliness. The absence of a “normal” family weighed heavily on me, a quiet ache I carried this time of the year. Christmas, once magical in my childhood, slowly lost its warmth the older I got, leaving only reminders of the family I longed for.
(more…)5 Reasons to Join NASSP in 2026
As 2025 winds to a close, it’s the perfect time to consider your goals for the year ahead. If one of them is to take leadership to the next level, then it’s time to join NASSP—if you aren’t already a member.
(more…)Advocating for My Sister With National Student Council on Capitol Hill
Growing up with a little sister with Down syndrome has meant seeing both the beauty and the flaws in how our society treats people with special needs. From watching her cry at home and repeating, “I have no friends,” to watching her face light up when she is with friends who truly accept her, I have seen all aspects of her life up close.
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5 Tips to Encourage Students to Apply for the NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award
Each year, NJHS recognizes 500 middle level students for their commitment to the five pillars of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship through the Outstanding Achievement Award (OAA). The students selected receive a $500 college savings plan to support their educational aspirations.
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What Is NASSP’s District Leaders Network?
Designed to foster connection, learning, and engagement, the District Leaders Network is NASSP’s newest Leadership Network. It’s a dedicated space for those serving in district-level leadership roles, such as superintendents, assistant superintendents, district administrators, university faculty, and executive coaches.
(more…)Meet a 2025 NHS Chapter Pillar Award Winner
Each year, NASSP recognizes around 200 NHS and NJHS chapters with Pillar Awards for embracing Honor Society core values. There are five award categories: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, Character, and Overall Excellence. Winners receive a digital recognition package, including a seal for their chapter website.
(more…)A Proud Principal and His Podcast
NASSP’s 2025–26 National High School Principal of the Year, Tony Cattani, hosts the Proud Principals Podcast, which celebrates the incredible work of school leaders. Each week, the principal of Lenape High School in Medford, NJ, interviews a fellow educational leader to learn how they inspire success. In every podcast, Cattani asks his guests: “What is your proudest principal effort?” Read on for what he said when he sat on the other side of the microphone and answered that question himself.
(more…)NHS Chapter Essentials for Every Milestone
Running an NHS chapter is an exciting responsibility—but it also comes with a lot of moving pieces. Whether you’re preparing for inductions, celebrating senior achievements, or recognizing student leadership throughout the year, having the right tools on hand makes everything smoother. Here are a few chapter essentials every adviser should keep stocked:
(more…)5 Must-Read Posts in Honor of National Principals Month
Today marks the start of October, that special month when we honor principals nationwide. To kick off the celebration of your hard work and dedication, we’re re-upping the following School of Thought posts from our members—middle and high school principals and assistant principals just like you.
(more…)How One NASSP Board Member Supports New Teachers
September can be a scramble. In addition to a fresh cohort of students to look forward to, principals must often onboard brand-new teachers. Most arrive excited to get started but may lack the practical experience needed to handle the day-to-day realities of teaching in high school. Below, Greg Johnson, the principal of West Liberty-Salem High School in West Liberty, OH, and an NASSP board member, offers strategies for creating supportive environments where new teachers thrive—and students reap the benefits.
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4 Reasons to Engage in Student Council This Year
Ever since my election last spring to the National Student Council, I’ve met some amazing people from our officers’ team, our fantastic state representatives, and our national advisers from NASSP, Ann Postlewaite and Taryn Erminio. However, getting to this point and being able to experience these opportunities is something I would have never imagined for myself two years ago when I first joined student council.
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Honoring My Heritage This Hispanic Heritage Month
As a child of immigrants, I have always taken great pride in being an American of Mexican descent. My earliest memories include long family trips driving six hours south to visit relatives in Ojinaga, Chihuahua, the Mexican border town across from Presidio, TX. Spanish was my first language, and at home, my parents spoke almost exclusively Spanish. At school, as one of the older children, I was placed in the English as a Second Language program at Sundown Elementary School, in the district where I serve as the middle school principal. My father worked as a manual laborer in the oilfield, while my mother cared for six children at home.
(more…)4 Reasons to Build Your Career Pathway Program With NASSP
September is Workforce Development Month, a time for school leaders to consider how they are preparing students for the careers of tomorrow. In a rapidly evolving job market, the traditional path isn’t the only route to success. Principals like you can ensure students have access to pathways, bridging the gap between education and meaningful employment. But where do you begin? NASSP’s newest offering, NASSP Academy, offers a comprehensive roadmap. Connecting Classrooms to Careers, NASSP Academy’s first foundational course, is an asynchronous online course for school leaders passionate about workforce development. Here are four reasons why you should take this course:
(more…)Another Chance to Teach the 4 NHS Pillars
For NHS advisers, a new school year brings fresh opportunities to develop the next generation of student leaders. Here, Kathryn Kula, a chemistry teacher and NHS and student council adviser at Jefferson Township High School in Jefferson, NJ, shares how she helps students better understand and uphold the four pillars of NHS.
(more…)Why Helping Students Navigate Tough Conversations Matters More Than Ever
The ability to navigate tough conversations and foster growth through civil discourse is more important than ever. As cultural, economic, and political challenges persist across the country, it’s not just adults dealing with these issues and conflicts in their lives. Students are also wrestling with tough questions, though most of them don’t yet have the skills or experience to navigate them.
Which NASSP Sessions Do You Want to See at SXSW EDU?
NASSP is proposing three new sessions for the 2026 SXSW EDU Conference & Festival. One of the largest and most influential education conferences in the country, SXSW EDU will choose new sessions to include based on three elements, one of which is public voting. The polls close August 24, 2025, so make your selection today!
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My 5 Favorite Things About the United Conference
My guiding philosophy for professional development is that gaining even a single new idea constitutes a successful experience. Last month, I attended United: The National Conference on School Leadership in Seattle. I was profoundly impressed by the insights presented. Rather than just one idea, I returned with 21 pages of innovative strategies to implement at my school this year, spanning reflections on maintaining a strong sense of purpose, creative concepts for murals, and innovative applications of AI in education. Interested in learning more? Here are just a few of my favorites from the conference.
(more…)Five Advocacy Tips to Get Your Voice Heard
Terri Daniels, EdD, is the 2025 NASSP Advocacy Champion of the Year. The principal of Folsom Middle School in Folsom, CA, Daniels has more than 40 years of experience in public and private schools. Her leadership and advocacy have had a profound impact on educational policy at the state and national levels.
(more…)Meet NASSP High School National Assistant Principal of the Year Saani Perry
Rahsaan “Saani” Perry, the assistant principal of West Florence High School in Florence, SC, was recently named NASSP’s 2025 High School National Assistant Principal of the Year and the next principal of John W. Moore Middle School. We asked him about the honor and what it means to him and his school.
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