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:
(more…)School of Thought Blog
Why You Should Attend UNITED This Summer
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.
(more…)Why You Should Participate in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Student Visionaries of the Year
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.
(more…)Assistant Principals Reflect on AP Week 
This week is National Assistant Principals Week. In honor of it, Mario Balderrama, the assistant principal of Vail Academy and High School in Tucson, AZ, and Rhoda Núñez-Donnelly, an assistant principal of Harper’s Choice Middle School in Columbia, MD, share what this special time means to them.
(more…)NASSP’s Assistant Principal of the Year Finalists 
NASSP has named Jeffrey Horstman, Sheri Murphy, and Courtney Walker as the finalists for the 2024 NASSP National Assistant Principal of the Year award. 
(more…)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.
(more…)Principal Chris Young: The 2024 NASSP Advocacy Champion of the Year
“She’s super nice. Except when it’s time to fight.”
That was NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe praising Melissa Shindel the 2023 Advocacy Champion, as she prepared to pass the torch to Chris Young, the principal of North Country Union High School in Newport, VT.
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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.
(more…)Women’s History Month With NASSP
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, NASSP proudly recognizes the contributions of female school and student leaders who are shaping our country’s future. Check out NASSP’s resources curated to help inspire you to lead with diversity, equity, and inclusion at the forefront.
(more…)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.
(more…)Support Your Case to Attend
At UNITED, school leaders of all levels will come together to amplify their collective voices, learn from each other, and find inspiration and fresh ideas to take back to their schools. You can elevate your own leadership by joining us in Nashville this summer, July 15-17, and we can help you build support for your case to attend.
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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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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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Five Tips to Better Support Students in the College Application Process
Today’s students face unprecedented levels of technological change, mental health concerns, and record low college admissions rates—among other things—that have made today’s educational environment vastly different from the one their parents grew up in. I’ve seen how these shifts trickle down to daily feelings of anxiety for children and adults alike.
(more…)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.
(more…)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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NASSP’s Women in School Leadership Network Wraps Up Inaugural Year
NASSP’s Women in School Leadership Network recently wrapped up its inaugural year. Each month, a core group of about 20 women leaders from around the country connected online to discuss our unique experiences while navigating what has historically been a male-dominated role. 
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A Weekend to Celebrate School Leaders—and College Football
The 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship weekend earlier this month in Houston, TX, was the experience of a lifetime. A weekend where educators were celebrated for their distinguished achievements. A weekend of learning, networking, and collaboration with leaders in their field. A weekend that I will never forget.
(more…)Assistant Principals NetworkNASSP Assistant Principals of the Year Alumni NetworkNASSP Principal of the Year Alumni NetworkWomen in School Leadership Network
Getting the Right Grant Begins With Early Groundwork
The Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA) recently secured a Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education. For Alaskan educators, that means improved professional development, higher compensation, and a better chance of staying in the classroom. We talked with ACSA Grant Director Sam Jordan to discuss this achievement and the strategies behind securing grants like this one.
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How I Helped Spread the Word as an NASSP Ambassador
Five months ago, I joined the NHS + NatStuCo Marketing Advisory Council. Why? To be a part of something bigger than myself. The Council is part of NASSP’s Ambassador program, which engages principals, advisers, and students to support NASSP’s mission of lifting school and student leader voices and empowering school leaders and students to lead the organization’s work.
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