Students share ideas on student voice during NASSP’s Illuminate Student Summit on Wellness in Washington, D.C.

Strengthening the Principal-Student Council Relationship

Interested in learning how to nurture your principal-student council relationship this school year? Jeff R. Sherrill, NASSP’s senior program manager of Leading & Learning, offers four strategies that can work for you:

  • Empower students. Empowerment is cultivated as student leaders grow in their understanding of school issues, their responsibilities, and the value of their voices.
  • Make time for mentoring. This affords principals opportunities to model their leadership skills to help student council members develop their own styles and skills as leaders, promote personal growth, and prepare for future roles and responsibilities.
  • Open lines of communication. A robust principal-student council relationship allows for the exchange of ideas, concerns, and suggestions.
  • Involve students in decision-making related to curriculum, extracurricular activities, and school policies. This gives principals a mechanism for gaining valuable insights into student needs and interests.

Read more at bit.ly/451Jrcv.

First Principal Apprenticeship Program Gains Approval

The U.S. Department of Labor has approved North Dakota’s school leader apprenticeship program, making it the first such program to achieve federal recognition. The principal apprenticeship program is similar to grow-your-own teacher programs that have become popular in recent years as a way to bring new educators into classrooms. According to an article in K–12 Dive, candidates in North Dakota’s program would work for at least one year as assistant principals while completing coursework and other requirements to earn principal licensure. They can also receive tuition assistance to help defray the cost of a master’s degree program. A recent Rand Corporation report shows the need for new principal candidates: The principal turnover rate was 16% at the end of the 2021–22 school year, a 13-percentage-point increase from pre-pandemic levels. Read the article at bit.ly/3OzlAK7.

NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe with Melissa Shindel, NASSP 2023 Advocacy Champion of the Year.

Fostering Connections Through Social Media

What school leaders think, feel, and experience matters. That’s why NASSP is elevating and amplifying members’ voices through its social media and video platforms, so school—and student leaders—can connect nationwide. Sharing members’ experiences and perspectives through stunning visuals, video features, live collaborative streams, and more allows school leaders and student leaders to network with peers, share ideas, and spread the breadth of leadership knowledge worldwide. Connect with colleagues via official NASSP social media and video accounts and view various event recaps and educational resources on NASSP’s YouTube page. Learn more at linktr.ee/nassp.

LGBTQ+ People in Schools Need Champions and Allies

The lives of LGBTQ+ teachers in our schools are plagued with fear, anxiety, depression, and worse because they are seen as the reason that public school students all around the nation are coming out transgender, says Nicholas Prosini, a music teacher at Braddock Elementary School in Annandale, VA. Prosini urges LGBTQ+ students, staff, and allies to be visible in schools—and not just during observances such as Pride Month. “LGBTQ+ people exist in all of the same spaces as everyone else, and even if you don’t think you know any LGBTQ+ people, we are here and often feel invisible,” Prosini says. “Affirming LGBTQ+ people in our school communities contributes to a welcoming and compassionate school experience for everyone. Now more than ever, LGBTQ+ people need champions and allies in K–12 education.” Read more at bit.ly/3s90tH1.