This summer, Aaron Huff completes his term as NASSP president. In the fall, he’ll return to his position as principal of Benjamin Bosse High School in Evansville, IN. In this post, we asked Huff to look back at the highlights of his tenure as president, reflect on returning to his school, and discuss the role of NASSP in elevating the voices of school leaders at all levels.
What are some highlights of your tenure?
One of the big things was the opportunity to travel the country and see education holistically. I was able to connect with individuals across the country who are navigating similar challenges in different contexts. Another highlight was the opportunity to advocate for public education at all levels, which my position gave me many chances to do.
Were there any surprises?
It’s not necessarily a surprise, but more of an aha moment, realizing how much the political landscape at the federal level affects what happens in education. You hear about it and maybe have some local knowledge, but most of us don’t have a federal lens through which to see things. It was definitely a learning experience to see how power and policy intersect and how that often can muddy the political waters. And unfortunately, discussions at the federal level often exclude principals’ voices. NASSP is working hard to fill that gap and elevate our voices as they relate to public policy and laws that impact what’s happening in our local schools.
You’re going back to your job as principal. How are you feeling about that transition?
I’m excited to take some of the things I’ve learned and help our school and our district. I have to admit there’s a bit of anxiety, too. I have two wonderful assistant principals who led the building during the past year and did an outstanding job, but things change, and people change. I’m looking forward to getting back, rejoining the leadership team, and contributing to the continued success of our building. I think I’ll also be a better principal, a better advocate, and a better leader after my time as president. I can share some of the insights I’ve seen across the country, especially as far as making high schools more relevant. We may need to look at things a bit differently for this next generation of students.
Why should principals join NASSP and become more active in the organization?
NASSP offers leaders the type of network where you can literally get on the phone and call someone for advice. That’s because you can connect with others at conferences, other NASSP events, Leadership Networks, webinars, or through something you read on the blog or in Principal Leadership. NASSP is working hard to create spaces where people share ideas and connect with each other. At the end of the day, we’re all dealing with similar challenges in education. So, to me, the smartest thing is to glean information from one another. NASSP is a service organization. We are here to serve principals and our members. I’ve been pleased to see the trajectory of the organization shift to reflect that focus and to become even more member centric.