I was standing on the field, waiting for our football team to run out, when I looked around and took it all in. It was a hometown rivalry game, the kind of night that feels bigger than the game itself. The stands were full. The student section was electric. Our cheerleaders and dancers were ready, […]
Category: Recruitment, Retention, and Career Growth
Celebrating National Principals Month
Building CultureRecognitionRelationships
National Principals Association Welcomes Elementary School Leaders
The National Principals Association (formerly NASSP) has officially welcomed pre-K through elementary school principals and assistant principals into the fold. Jana Clark, the principal of Boyd Elementary School, in Boyd, TX, shares why she’s excited about the change.
BelongingelementaryPrincipal pipeline
Make Your Case to Attend the 2027 National Principals Conference
School leadership isn’t getting simpler—it’s getting more complex. Every day, you balance student well-being, staffing, and systems with evolving expectations. Get a handle on it all at NPC27 this February in Tampa, FL.
Leadershipprofessional development
An Elementary School Principal’s Shoutout for Her AP
In honor of AP Week, April 6–10, School of Thought asked Jana Clark, the principal of Boyd Elementary School in Boyd, TX, to highlight the stellar work of Cortnie Bryan, the assistant principal. In many schools, it’s work that often goes unseen. But it’s vital to the success of all school communities PreK–12.
3 Reasons to Apply for the NASSP Board of Directors
Serving as a school leader means making decisions every day that impact students, staff, and communities. For many principals and assistant principals, there comes a moment when the question shifts from “How do I lead my school well?” to “How can my experience help shape the profession?”
Teaching the Next Generation of Principals
As I close in on nearly 30 years in education, I recently reflected with my wife (also a principal here in Colorado) about our teacher preparation programs—and how much I didn’t enjoy them as much as my principal preparation coursework. The relevance of courses like School Law, Budget & Finance, and Instructional Leadership, combined with the engaging and thoughtful […]
elementaryRecruitmentRetention and Career Growth
7 Practices to Ensure a Respectful Interview Process
For some, interviewing is a thrilling process full of opportunity and fresh beginnings. For others, it’s an intimidating experience filled with uncertainty and self-doubt.
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.
Assistant Principals Leadership NetworkAssistant Principals Network
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 […]
digital leadershipLeadership developmentschool culture
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 […]