Aspiring School Leaders Network

The Alaska School Leadership Academy: Empowering new principals—and retaining them

Alaska is a unique state. It is the largest geographically, but with the third smallest population. It has many very rural, remote school districts—some without good access to high-speed internet—along with an extremely diverse student population. Those elements pose obvious challenges to our schools, especially at a time when we’ve lost our competitiveness in the education job market because of stagnant salaries, inadequate retirement benefits, and lower investment in public education. With schools all over the country experiencing staff shortages, we’ve faced challenges in attracting school leaders here. In recent years, some of our most remote districts experienced annual principal turnover rates of almost 40%.

Role Call: March 2024 – Connecting With New Teachers

In the past decade, I have had the privilege of serving in leadership roles where I hired dozens of teachers, paraprofessionals, and auxiliary staff. I remember some successful hires, like the time I hired a coach who ended up being Texas Girls Coaches Association coach of the year. I hired a special education teacher who served in the same role for dozens of years and affected many positive changes for our kids. I hired a band director who transformed the culture of the band—and the entire school building—for the better.

Aspiring School Leaders Network

Viewpoint: March 2024 – For Principals, Attitude Is Everything

That’s a question I’ve been asked several times by students and even teachers over the course of my nine years as a secondary school principal. It’s a valid question and one that people who are contemplating their position in life probably think about more than say out loud, but it’s one I shouldn’t have to answer.

Aspiring School Leaders Network

Roundtable: Leading for Recruitment and Retention

Every March, students and educators alike look forward to the start of spring and the warmer weather, more daylight, and outdoor activities it brings. For principals, the season also signals that hiring is in full swing. To learn how school leaders are handling staffing for next year, Principal Leadership contacted Derek Bellow, the principal of Liberty High School in Las Vegas, NV, and the 2023 Nevada Principal of the Year; Sham Bevel, the principal of Bayside Sixth Grade Campus in Virginia Beach, VA, and the 2023 Virginia Principal of the Year; and Jacob Feldmann, the principal of Western Dubuque High School in Epworth, IA, and the 2023 Iowa Principal of the Year.

Aspiring School Leaders Network

Teacher Prep in High School

There are 168 schools that have an International Baccalaureate (IB) Career-Related Programme (CP) in the United States, and five of them are in Wisconsin. Reagan High School in Milwaukee, where I’m an assistant principal, is the only school in the state to offer an education pathway for students as part of this program.

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Roundtable: Why Teachers Aspire to be Principals

While schools grapple with teacher shortages across the country, let’s remember to celebrate those educators who not only plan to stay in the profession but who also want to pursue careers in school leadership. To learn more about teachers who aspire to become principals, Principal Leadership contacted Drew Kaman, an honors and AP chemistry teacher at Washingtonville Central High School in Washingtonville, NY, and a member of NASSP’s Aspiring School Leaders Network; Eric Stearns, district music coordinator and choral director at St. Helens High School in St. Helens, OR; and Amber Vanzant, a significant support needs special education teacher at Mead High School in Longmont, CO.

Aspiring School Leaders Network

An Assistant Principal Reflects on His Role

In honor of AP Week, we spoke with Lamark Holley, an assistant principal of Southampton Middle School in Bel Air, MD, about his longtime career in education and the difference he makes in his school community.

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Pursuing the Path to School Leadership

Jessica Rehberg, an assistant principal of Winder-Barrow High School in Winder, GA, is the first to admit that the principalship isn’t the most romantic calling—at least at first. “Whether you’re a child or college kid dreaming of being a teacher, school leadership isn’t something you necessarily aspire to,” she says. “Rather, the desire to lead comes with experience, not just seeing the great things that happen under a good leader but also the ways you can contribute. As you get a sense of the bigger picture of how schools run, you can’t help but get ideas.”

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New NASSP Leadership Network for Women

March is Women’s History Month, a time when we recognize and celebrate the contributions of women throughout American history. In honor of this month, we want to highlight a new opportunity for women in school leadership to collaborate and support one another.

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Recruitment and Retention Strategies to Increase School Leader Diversity

“Everywhere I looked, leadership didn’t look like me. But our students did,” says Danielle Edwards, a school leader and Spelman College alumna who sought school leadership opportunities in her school community. In the absence of guidelines and a career pathway, she relied on her network of Spelman sisters and like-minded colleagues to help her navigate […]

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Women in Leadership: Advice from Members of NASSP's Board

In honor of Women’s History Month and the amazing work you do as school leaders on behalf of your students and staff, we have gathered insights from five women on the NASSP Board of Directors who have faced challenges and succeeded in their careers. Whether you’re just starting out in your leadership journey or are well on your way, we hope this advice helps inspire you as you navigate the ups and downs of leadership.

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