School of Thought Blog

With content from practicing school leaders and education experts, our School of Thought Blog offers a wealth of information and research on emergent education issues.

School Leadership Amid the U.S. Immigration Debate

I will not disclose today if I’m leaning left or right because the issue at hand is not about politics. At the core of the debate over immigration in this country is humanity, an issue that should unite us all.

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From the Classroom to Capitol Hill: NASSP’s Trailblazing Leadership Week

National Honor Society Scholarship Winner Ella Mayor, left, and National Assistant Principal of the Year Courtney Walker. Photos courtesy of NASSP.

At NASSP, we bring together school and student leaders to reimagine and rebuild an education system that meets every student’s needs. This mission is based on the powerful idea that when we have everyone in education—from students to school leaders—sharing their expertise and uniting their voices, the world will listen.

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Cindy Sholtys-Cromwell

Why You Should Attend UNITED This Summer

When elementary and secondary school leaders from around the country gather in Nashville this summer for UNITED: The National Conference on School Leadership, you can bet I’ll be there. I’ve attended and presented at national and state conferences throughout my 24 years as an administrator, and I’m looking forward to UNITED for the following reasons:

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Daniel J. Miani, EdD

Promoting Student Voice Through Thrive Thursday

Every year before school begins at First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach, VA, we review our school improvement plan, including elements like on-time graduation rate, numeracy and literacy scores, and chronic absenteeism. As with many schools, since the pandemic, our chronic absenteeism rate has steadily increased, and we are also combatting a significant increase in mental, social, and emotional health issues in our school.

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Why You Should Participate in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Student Visionaries of the Year

Matthew during treatment. Photos courtesy of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Matthew Hauser.

My name is Matthew Hauser. I am from Pennsylvania and am a stage four Burkitt’s lymphoma survivor. I was diagnosed with this aggressive form of cancer when I was only two and a half years old. Intensive chemotherapy saved my life, but also caused me to go into heart failure 14 years later. After living with a heart pump for almost a year, I underwent a heart transplant in March of 2023—a life-changing experience for me.

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Principals Advocate on Capitol Hill

On the final day of the National School Leaders Advocacy Conference last week, the nearly 400 NASSP and NAESP school leaders who attended the gathering in Washington, D.C, headed to Capitol Hill for a full day of meetings with their elected representatives. That included 10 school leaders from Alabama, who met with lawmakers and staff from every member of the state’s congressional delegation: two senators and seven representatives.

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Election Advice From an NHS Adviser

At New Albany High School in Ohio, where I’ve served as the National Honor Society adviser for almost six years, I don’t worry that we won’t have enough candidates to fill the six officer positions in our chapter. As a high-performing school, we attract a lot of students who become NHS members, and the biggest challenge is making sure that the students who run are doing it for the right reasons.

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Join Us at UNITED

This summer, elementary and secondary school leaders will come together in Nashville for an unparalleled opportunity to collaborate toward a common goal. UNITED, The National Conference on School Leadership, marks a joint effort between the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). Taking place July 15–17, in the heart of Music City, this year’s conference offers a stage for innovation and leadership in education.

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Katherine Holden

Lifetouch Memory Mission 2024

Last month I was afforded the amazing privilege of attending the 2024 Lifetouch Memory Mission, alongside other educators. We spent eight days in Guatemala, with the beautiful members of the Xepatan community, building three additional classrooms to expand their existing school site. While our hope in going was to support education for children there and offer what we could to this community, each one of us ended the week feeling as though we had just received many more gifts than we could ever give.

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Cylen Gilmore

Growing as a Leader at LEAD

Joining a leadership program might just be the perfect opportunity for you to explore your potential, develop essential skills, and embark on an exhilarating adventure filled with fun and growth. At last month’s LEAD Conference, I not only got to embark on an amazing experience in Washington, D.C., but I also got the chance to bond with students from around the world.

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Boise High School’s Museum Honors a Rich History and Native Peoples

In a move to create a new school mascot that stopped appropriating Native culture while honoring their original mascot’s legacy, Boise High School transitioned from “The Braves” to “The B.R.A.V.E.,” an acronym for the values of their student body. We contacted former Boise High School Principal Robb Thompson and current Principal Deborah Watts to discuss the transition and how they continue to use it as a learning experience for students and adults alike.

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Three Podcasts for School Leaders on the Go

Finding time to gather insights and inspiration can be a challenge. For your convenience, we’ve curated a selection of podcasts sure to be of interest featuring NASSP Board Member Marcus Belin and State Principals of the Year. Whether you want to learn something new on your morning commute or take a well-deserved break, take a listen to the podcasts below.

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