School of Thought Blog

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

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

Higher Education Act Reauthorization Expected in 2016

Just before the New Year, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Bob Casey (D-PA) 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. In announcing the introduction of the bill, Senator Reed cited the body of evidence that shows the impact teachers and principals have on student achievement and also warned of the looming shortage of teachers and principals prepared to serve in high-need schools. Senator Casey also discussed the correlation between what students learn and what they earn later in life.

NASSP endorsed this legislation in the 113th Congress, and after submitting minor policy recommendations to Senator Reed’s staff that were included in the updated version, NASSP again supports this bill. (more…)

January 5, 2016

Education Policy Other

Climate, Culture, and the Urban Assistant Principal

Guest post by Baruti K. Kafele

Over the years, I have found the role of the urban assistant principal to be the most intriguing role in schools. In my role as a consultant, I see this role being played out so differently in so many schools—ranging from school disciplinarian to instructional leadership, and everything in between.

I often reflect back on my own tenure as an urban middle school assistant principal, when my responsibilities were relegated to school disciplinarian, cafeteria duty, bus duty, hall monitor, and staff supply inventory clerk. (more…)

January 5, 2016

ignite Ignite 16 Conference

Advocacy Update

100th Anniversary of NASSP

Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) introduced a House resolution recognizing 2016 as the 100th anniversary of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Read more about the resolution on the School of Thought blog.

Inside the Beltway

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

January 4, 2016

Education Policy Other

Congressional Resolution Honors NASSP’s 100th Anniversary

Everyone is getting in on NASSP’s 100th anniversary. Principals are celebrating the history of their profession and NASSP’s continued growth into a new century. Student leaders from several generations are fondly remembering how NASSP helped them amplify their voices and build their leadership skills.

And now, Congress is joining the celebration.

H.Res.570, a resolution recognizing 2016 as the year of the 100th anniversary of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, was introduced on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and into the federal record on December 17—just in time for NASSP’s 2016 celebration. (more…)

January 4, 2016

Education Policy Other Recognition