Middle Level Leaders Network
Latest Middle School Leaders Network News
On Being a Middle Level Student Council Adviser
A basic goal of middle level student councils should be to empower young student leaders to become the driving force in shaping the activities and culture of a developmentally responsive student organization. Reaching that goal means that student councils, like any academic curriculum, must introduce and foster essential skills necessary for students to be successful. For many students, their council experience during the middle grade years will be their first foray into student leadership. Having a qualified adviser who can deliver the proper guidance and instruction over the course of their student council experience will lay the foundation for their leadership journey.
NASSP Talks Advocacy in Twitter Chat
Last week, the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA) hosted a Twitter Chat delving into how K–12 principals can advocate for policy changes to improve their schools. See below for highlights from NASSP Director of External Affairs Jen Silva, and use the hashtag #MEMSPAChat to read the chat in full and check out NASSP’s Twitter for more insights.
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.
Principal Melissa Shindel: The 2023 NASSP Advocacy Champion of the Year
This winter, a group of school leaders from across the country came together to review contenders for NASSP’s Advocacy Champion of the Year. Going in, they knew this wouldn’t be easy. The awardee had to embody the mission of the organization and demonstrate an exceptional commitment to advocating on behalf of school leaders and schools. Although a number of candidates were deserving, one stood out.
New NASSP Leadership Network for Women
Recently, NASSP launched its first-ever Women in School Leadership Network. The network is designed to create a space for participants to share openly their perspectives and experiences unique to women’s leadership. The network also aims to create time for mentoring, support, growing, and challenging assumptions through the exchange of ideas. As the network co-facilitators, we want to share a bit about ourselves.
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.
Elevating the Importance of Teen Mental Health
Today is World Teen Mental Wellness Day. In honor of it, I want to share how school budget cuts inadvertently led me to take a closer look at the importance of mental health. And for that, I am eternally grateful.
Support, Coach, and Sustain to Recruit and Retain
When I became a school administrator over 15 years ago, the applicant pool for filling certified teaching vacancies was deep, if not overflowing. It was not uncommon to receive ten or more quality résumés from which to select worthy candidates. Two and possibly three rounds of interviews might ensue to select the best person for the open position.
What Black History Month Means to Me
I believe that Black History Month is not just a time to remember the history of African Americans but a time to understand the importance of three things: advocacy, activism, and societal progress. Over the years, advocacy in particular has changed our world for the better. As students, my peers and I are aware of leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X. But what made them important advocates and remarkable leaders is their common passion for change, progress, and peace within our community—which is why Black History Month means so much to me.
Leading with Love
In January, Robert Motley, Gregg Wieczorek, and I represented NASSP on the 2023 Lifetouch Memory Mission. We joined a team of 40 volunteers to travel to Guatemala, where we partnered with Hug It Forward, an organization that helps communities in Latin America build schools using sustainable resources (like plastic bottles). I was thrilled to be part of the trip and looked forward to giving back and doing my part to help make the world better. Little did I know this trip would be life-changing.
The Growing Need for Latino School Leaders
As our schools see increasing enrollments of Latino students, one thing many of those students aren’t seeing is school leaders who look like them.
Latina leaders are especially underrepresented—something that Sonia Ruiz is keenly aware of. Ruiz, who is starting a new position as principal of Jane Addams Middle School in Bolingbrook, IL, this school year, believes that school leaders of color bring what she calls a “different lens” to the job that can help students to relate to the principal in a more personal way.