School of Thought Blog

Higher Ambitions Toward Higher Education: NHS and NJHS Lead the Way

This academic year, the National Honor Society (NHS) and the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) embarked on an aggressive goal: To support and increase college access and success for its members—and secondary students in general. The goal targets a White House initiative rooted in a profound statistic.

In a June 2014 Education Week article, First Lady Michelle Obama, an NHS alumna herself, wrote, “A generation ago, America had the highest percentage of college graduates in the world. But today, we’ve dropped all the way to 12th in terms of young adults.” (more…)

February 24, 2016

Your Ignite ‘16 To-Do List

It’s time to connect, innovate, and thrive at Ignite ’16! We’re looking forward to seeing you and other school leaders in Orlando this week at the only professional development event devoted exclusively to the needs of middle level and high school administrators.

To ensure that you take full advantage of the networks, education, and technology available at Ignite, check these items off your Ignite ’16 to-do list.

Bring Your Confirmation Email. If you haven’t already, you will receive a confirmation email a few days prior to the conference. (more…)

February 23, 2016

Ignite 16 Conference Other

Advocacy Update

Impact Aid

In response to the notice of proposed rulemaking on Impact Aid, NASSP, together with 16 other leading education organizations, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education. The letter included a request that the Department update the current paper-based process for parent and pupil surveys with modern technology, saving schools and districts valuable time and money.

Inside the Beltway (more…)

February 22, 2016

Education Policy Other

NASSP Issues Feedback as ESSA Implementation Moves Forward

On January 21, NASSP, along with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), submitted comments to the Federal Register in response to the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) request for information (RFI) on Title I of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). We requested that the Department issue regulations ensuring student growth measures are tied to state accountability systems; technical assistance for administering assessments and the timely delivery of results; guidance on measuring growth for English language learners; and technical assistance to identify effective measures to improve school quality.

In total, 369 comments were submitted from advocacy organizations, foundations, and various professionals throughout the education sector. (more…)

February 19, 2016

Education Policy Other

10 Ways Principals Can Use Twitter to Engage Stakeholders

Guest post by Dwight Carter

Before I joined the Twitterverse, I was critical of its use, and quite frankly, was turned off by the concept all together. I often read and watched what seemed like ridiculous stories of what celebrities shared about their lives—from the foods they ate, whom they had lunch with, or whom they were dating. I saw no purpose for it all. However, all that changed about five years ago when my former district embarked on a digital journey.

I had the opportunity to participate in an intense, three-day social media boot camp facilitated by Debra Jasper and Betsy Hubbard, founders of Mindset Digital. (more…)

February 19, 2016

Ignite 16 Conference Other Technology & E-learning

Advocacy Update

Implementing ESSA Updates

NASSP has joined with other national education organizations to form the State and Local ESSA Implementation Network, which recently sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Education John King urging a timely, fair transition to ESSA and a collaborative process that brings all parties to the table.

Inside the Beltway

What’s going on in Washington? (more…)

February 16, 2016

Education Policy Other

30 Questions from Principal Interviews (Plus More)

Guest post by William D. Parker

Each year, I partner with other school leaders through our state principal association to work with aspiring principals or new principals as they begin their journeys in school administration. After one workshop, a participant asked, “What kinds of questions can I expect in an interview for assistant principal or principal?”

I gave a few examples, but as I thought about the question later, I began to write down the questions I remember answering in my own interviews. (more…)

February 12, 2016

Other Principal/Teacher Preparation

President Obama Unveils His Final Budget

On February 9, President Obama released the final budget of his presidency. This comes days after congressional leaders announced that Shaun Donovan, director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), would not be invited to testify on the FY 2017 budget. As testifying is a tradition typically afforded to the director of OMB, this likely signals a looming budget and appropriations battle in the final year of Obama’s presidency.

The three education investment themes in the president’s budget are:

1) Increasing equity and excellence (more…)

February 11, 2016

Education Policy federal funding Other

Advocacy Update

Inside the Beltway

What’s going on in Washington?

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) made several important announcements this week concerning implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). On February 2, Acting Secretary of Education John King sent a follow-up letter to chief state school officers concerning the president’s Testing Action Plan, released in October. In the letter, King updated the plan to align with the requirements of ESSA and clarify that, through ESSA, states will receive funds that can be used to help develop and improve their assessment systems. (more…)

February 8, 2016

Education Policy Other Principal/Teacher Preparation

Amplifying the Voices of Principals in Washington, D.C.

Guest post by Alan Tenreiro

A few weeks ago, I traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with John King, the acting U.S. secretary of education, and other educational and political leaders to discuss how best to amplify the voices of educators—principals, in particular—in public policy discussions.

This is no small challenge. Countless think tanks, policy centers, and other special interest groups—most far more savvy and better funded than educators—compete for a place at the policy table. Yet, as NASSP regularly reminds us, there is no substitute for hearing from actual voices from the field. (more…)

February 3, 2016

Education Policy Other

Advocacy Update

Inside the Beltway

What’s going on in Washington?

The D.C. area was hit with the biggest snowstorm in a decade, beginning on Friday, January 22, causing closures, delays, and cancellations across the city, including on Capitol Hill. But elsewhere, politicos were more concerned with the run up to the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primaries. Iowans go to the polls today, February 1, to elect the first delegates to this summer’s Democratic and Republican Conventions. The New Hampshire primaries will play out next week on February 9. (more…)

February 1, 2016

Education Policy Other

Sign of the Times: Webinars Tackle Terrorism

As we all know, your school’s success is tied to much more than student academic performance. School security, and the emotional and physical well being of your students, staff, and community, are examples of other important issues that must be managed well in our present educational and societal climate. To that end, in December, educators from around the country had the opportunity to tune in to two webinars, courtesy of NASSP, on terrorism—an all too relevant topic today.

Throughout the year, NASSP offers free professional development webinars that provide discussion and instruction on timely topics and tools for education leaders. (Fees for nonmembers vary.) (more…)

January 27, 2016

Other School Safety webinar

Advocacy Update

Inside the Beltway

What’s going on in Washington?

Comments were due this week in response to the Request for Information from the U.S. Department of Education on implementing Title I of the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This is one of the first steps in the regulatory process for ESSA, which takes effect on August 1, 2016. NASSP submitted comments along with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), which can be viewed online. All comments are public record, so you can also view comments submitted by other organizations and individuals as well. (more…)

January 25, 2016

Education Policy Other

Why Middle Level Students Need to Start Saving for College

“Children with $500 or less saved for college are three times more likely to enroll in college and four times more likely to graduate,” according to the Assets and Education Initiative, as published in the CFED (Corporation for Enterprise Development) Fact File in 2014.

In an era when college costs are skyrocketing, these compelling statistics presented an opportunity for the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) to step in. To provide a head start on saving for college, this month NJHS launched its first-ever individual student award program.

The NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award will recognize 500 of the most exceptional NJHS members nationwide with a $500 college savings award, (more…)

January 22, 2016

Building Culture college admissions Equity postsecondary education

NASSP at 100: Let the Celebration Begin!

As schools continue to settle in following the winter break, I extend to you and all principals across the nation our best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2016. This year is a special one for NASSP—2016 marks the 100th anniversary of NASSP’s founding by a small group of principals who gathered in Detroit to create a network of support for school leaders facing common challenges. This mission has remained a constant through a century’s worth of events and evolution. The effects of the Great Depression, World War II, the “happy days” of the 1950s, the civil rights movement, the Cold War, the digital revolution, and 9/11 all reverberated in schoolhouses. They prompted school leaders to provide reassurance and optimize teachable moments and they worked to build the future one student at a time. (more…)

January 19, 2016

Other

Why Are You Proud to Be a Principal?

Help celebrate NASSP’s 100th anniversary by entering our selfie contest! Starting this month, we’re asking school leaders to participate by sharing on social media what being a principal means to them.

To enter the contest, principals can take a photo of themselves with a written answer to the question, “Why are you proud to be a principal?” and #NASSP100. The photo should be shared on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using #NASSP100.

Photos must be shared on social media by March 31, 2016. (more…)

January 19, 2016

Building Culture Communication Leading Learning Reflection & Growth

Advocacy Update

Supreme Court

Principals in the Central states may now be a bit more confused about their responsibility to report suspected child abuse. The Supreme Court declined to review a 6th Circuit decision allowing parents to sue principals for reporting suspected abuse at home. The allegation by the administrator, the court concluded, was retaliation for a dispute over the student’s IEP. NASSP signed an amicus curiae brief for the case, indicating that “mandatory reporting” now results in mandatory vulnerability to civil suits. NASSP members, remember that your membership provides you with up to $10,000 in legal coverage. Let’s hope you won’t need it, despite the court’s decision. (more…)

January 18, 2016

Education Policy Other

New Scholarship Search Tool Launched to Support NHS Members

A Google search for “college scholarships” yields 112 million results. What if a student could narrow that search to generate options that were more focused on his or her attributes and aptitudes?

This week, the National Honor Society (NHS) introduced NHS Scholar Dollars, a scholarship search tool powered by College Board. Now, NHS members will be able to more efficiently explore scholarship opportunities. The tool provides members with filtered results based on the four pillars of NHS: scholarship, service, leadership, and character. (more…)

January 12, 2016

Building Culture college admissions postsecondary education

Advocacy Update

Inside the Beltway

What’s going on in Washington?

Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island and Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania introduced the Educator Preparation Reform Act (S. 2419), aimed at better preparing teachers, principals, and other educators to be effective and profession-ready on day one. The bill is intended to be part of the conversation on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, which is expected to come up this year. NASSP endorsed this legislation in the 113th Congress and offered recommendations to Sen. Reed’s staff for the current 114th Congress version. (more…)

January 11, 2016

Education Policy Other

Principals, School Counselors, and U.S. Army Gather for Leadership, Professional Development

It was a meeting of great minds in education this past fall at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Thirty-seven secondary school principals and school counselors joined senior Army leaders and education experts for the third annual U.S. Army Leadership and Professional Development Symposium, a collaboration between the U.S. Army and NASSP. During the three-day meeting, Army and education leaders (including former NASSP president G.A. Buie) discussed best practices in leadership development and exchanged ideas about improving the state of education for students and schools.

New to the 2015 symposium were representatives from the American School Counselor Association. As the school counselors joined the ranks of their principal colleagues, the group of educators drew energy and new ideas from their peers, also drawing on the perspective and experiences of Army leaders in attendance. (more…)

January 6, 2016

Collaborative Leadership Leading Learning Other Principal/Teacher Preparation