ASPIRING PRINCIPALS TWO-DAY WORKSHOP
Saturday, February 27 | 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Saturday, March 6 | 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
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PRESENTATIONS & HANDOUTS Find handouts and presentations at massp.com/Aspiring21 Information is made available as it is received from presenters. Updates will be made throughout the conference.
MEET OUR FACILITATORS
PRINCIPALS Amy Hendry
Steve Carlson
Megan O’Brien
Principal, Sandusky Jr./Sr. High School MASSP Ex-Officio Board Member
Principal, Carter Middle School MASSP Board Member
Nina Davis
Michael Kapolka
Colin Ripmaster
Principal, L’Anse Creuse Middle School East MASSP Board President-Elect
Principal, Chelsea High School MASSP Board Member
MASSP Deputy Executive Director
Lara Dixon Principal, Troy Athens High School MASSP Board Member
Principal, Huron High School MASSP Board Member
Andy Kowalczyk
Todd Simmons
Assistant Principal, Bay City Central High School MASSP Board President
Principal, Pewamo-Westphalia Middle/High School MASSP Board Member
Tom Lietz
Wendy Zdeb
Principal, Utica High School MASSP Board Member
MASSP Executive Director
Steve Forsberg Assistant Principal, Ludington High School MASSP Board Member
SUPERINTENDENTS
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Dori Leyko
Andrew Brodie
Superintendent, East Lansing Public Schools
Superintendent, Flat Rock Community Sc Schools
Alena Zachery-Ross
Chris Wigent
Superintendent, Ypsilanti Public Schools
MASA Executive Director, Retired
AGENDA AT A GLANCE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27 9:00 a.m. - 9:25 a.m. 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
10:20 a.m. - 11:05 a.m.
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Welcome and Introductions Wendy Zdeb, MASSP Executive Director Breakout Sessions #1 Small District Principalship A Day in the Life of a Middle School Principal Building Community to Ensure Learning and Well-Being A Day in the Life of an Assistant Principal Crucial Conversations Breakout Sessions #2 Cultivating a Positive Communication Environment Supporting Students and Families of Poverty Academically and Socially Considerations for Restorative Practices and Building Relationships in a Virtual Environment Building a Champion’s Culture and Growing Leaders Relationships, Relationships, Relationships Principal Panel Discussion
SATURDAY, MARCH 6 9:00 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. 9:25 a.m. - 9:55 a.m. 10:05 a.m. - 10:35 a.m. 10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. 11:25 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Welcome and Introductions Wendy Zdeb, MASSP Executive Director Practice Interviews Round 1 Practice Interviews Round 2 Practice Interviews Round 3 Words of Advice and Closing
ON-DEMAND CONTENT Resume and Cover Letter Feedback and Tips
Project Game Plan Activity
Interview Tips
Administrator Certification
Researching a School/District Using MiSchool Data and Other Sources
Opportunities for Preparing Yourself to be an Administrator
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BREAKOUT SESSIONS #1 Small District Principalship [Steve Carlson, Principal, Sandusky Jr./Sr. High School] Steve Carlson was an MASSP Principal of the Year in 2018 and is a Past-President of the Association. Steve is currently representing the Midwest on the National Association of Secondary School Principals Board of Directors. This session will center on what life is like as a 6-12 or 7-12 building principal in a small rural district. While the primary focus of our time will be on the many rewards that are specific to leading a small school, there will also be a discussion of some of the challenges to be considered, especially if your experience has been in a larger district. This session will be interactive with ample time for participant Q&A. A Day in the Life of the Middle School Principal [Nina Davis, Principal, L’Anse Creuse Middle School East] Nina Davis is currently President-Elect of the MASSP. So you bravely want to explore the middle school principalship? That is the question that many will ask you if you’ve ever mentioned your interest in this level! In this session, we will explore ways to effectively accomplish the task of succeeding in the “middle” and feeling fulfilled as an administrator. Building Community to Ensure Learning & Well-Being [Lara Dixon, Principal, Troy Athens High School] Lara Dixon represents Region 12 on the MASSP Board of Directors. Unprecedented times require unprecedented action. The pandemic has been a catalyst to be more thoughtful, reflective, collaborative, unified, purposeful and open. We have spent more time than ever before, talking, listening, learning and changing. In this session we will share examples of the most impactful and innovative things Troy School District and Troy Athens High School has done to better meet our student and staff members’ needs of safety, dignity, and belonging so that well-being is prioritized, and authentic learning occurs. We will also share how it is going and what we will do next to further forward equity, opportunity, and learning for all. A Day in the Life of an Assistant Principal [Steve Forsberg, Assistant Principal, Ludington High School] Steve Forsberg currently sits on the MASSP Board of Directors as the Assistant Principal Representative for the West Region. This session aims to give an overview of the unique opportunities and challenges afforded to those in the position of Assistant Principal. Topics covered will include building student & staff relationships as an AP, discipline, attendance, team building, instructional leadership, special education, and other duties as assigned. Crucial Conversations [Michael Kapolka, Principal, Chelsea High School] Michael Kapolka Represents Region 8 on the MASSP Board of Directors. Part of an administrator’s daily responsibility is engaging with students, staff and parents. Although these conversations may be stress inducing for both parties, this session will help equip you with administrative best practices, as well as how to structure and approach crucial conversations with educational stakeholders.
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BREAKOUT SESSIONS #2 Cultivating a Positive Communication Culture [Tom Lietz, Principal, Utica High School] Tom Lietz represents Region 9 for the MASSP Board of Directors. Communication is the lifeblood of a school and can make or break a principalship. With ever-changing mediums for communication, a successful principal must meet communities where they are and help them get where they could be! Within those opportunities with peers, students, parents and staff, come pitfalls and landmines as well. This session will not only be about expanding opportunities, but setting boundaries and expectations to avoid backlash. Supporting Students and Families of Poverty Academically and Socially [Amy Hendry, Principal, Carter Middle School (Warren Consolidated School District)] Amy Hendry is currently serving on the MASSP Board of Directors as the Middle Level East Representative. This session will provide examples of Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) using data and offer creative strategies to support ALL students. Systematically identify the needs of ALL students both academically and socially (mental health), plan intentional support, implement, and monitor growth. Considerations for Restorative Practices and Building Relationships in a Virtual Environment [Megan O’Brien, Principal, Huron High School] Megan O’Brien represents Region 10 for the MASSP Board of Directors. This session will focus on how administrators can still find ways to use restorative practice and restorative justice techniques in a virtual world. Focal points will be: holding meetings and circles on Google meet or Zoom, new approaches to discipline, parent involvement, proactive student reach out, and more. Building a Champion’s Culture & Growing Leaders [Todd Simmons, Principal, Pewamo-Westphalia Middle/High School] Todd Simmons is MASSP’s 2020 Principal of the Year and sits on the Board of Directors as the Region 6 Representative. In this session, Todd will share how the staff at Pewamo-Westphalia Middle/High School has created a Champion’s Culture of excellence at their small rural school. Relationships, Relationships, Relationships [Andy Kowalczyk, Assistant Principal, Bay City Central High School] Andy Kowalczyk is currently the President of the MASSP. Creating a great working environment and a positive school culture always comes down to relationships. Being a successful school administrator requires all of us to value our staff and find ways to build positive relationships. This session will focus on how relationships are built through daily conversations, intentional inclusion and staff bonding activities.
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RESUME DO’S AND DON’TS Resume: • • • • • • • • • • •
Keep your resume to two pages, a front and a back if at all possible. This may require cutting off some activities that are a bit dated, but that is fine. No cover page – it’s not a book report. Make your final copy to submit a PDF file. You don’t want issues with spacing, font, etc. by submitting a .doc, .docx, .pages or any other file type. You may also want to list references on a separate page to keep your resume to two pages. Use a clean, simple and modern font. No pictures or graphics! Font size no smaller than 10 point. Use bold or underlining only for headings, not for descriptor text. Stick to a black and white resume. If the posting requires you to mail in your resume use a better quality of white paper (not standard copy paper). Objectives are a bit dated, but if you choose to use one don’t make it “To get an Assistant Principal position.” Make it more like your motto or belief about education. When listing your name, home address, etc. on the top, make sure to include both a phone and an email address. Use a personal email address that has an appropriate name, not something like hotmamma@gmail. com. When you list your teaching major/minor include the certification letters, e.g. Science (DX). The template resume has the dates off to the right, we prefer that look than dates to the left, which seems a little dated. The template has the candidate’s name at the top on page two, this is imperative in case the pages get separated when printed or copied.
References: • •
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Three to four references is enough. Always include your direct supervisor (building principal) and other colleagues who have worked closely with you. If you do not know your Superintendent well then they aren’t the best person to speak about you. If you ask your references to write you a letter of support be sure to send them a bulleted list of things you would like them to highlight. • For your Principal, you might ask them to talk about all the committee work and extra things you do, as well as the high level of quality instruction in your classroom. • If it is a teaching colleague, you want them to speak to how well respected you are by colleagues and that you’re viewed as a “go to person.” The colleague can speak to how well you share/collaborate and how innovative your approach is in the classroom, etc. Ask your references if you can use their cell and work numbers for a better chance of making a connection.
Cover letter: • • •
This MUST be tailored to the job you are applying for. Example: It is my pleasure to submit my materials for your consideration for the Assistant Principal opening posted for Rochester High School. Read the school and the district’s website. Is there anything they are doing/working on that you have a lot of experience with? If so, try to highlight that in your cover letter and/or resume. Always be positive, you want the tone of your cover letter to be professional, positive and energizing.
NOTE: As you are going into next school year, be thinking about what you can do to build the leadership side of your resume. You may even want to meet with your Principal now to see if there are any committees or things you could do that would be new experiences. Most schools are starting to build their master schedules now and it will continue over the summer – having master schedule experience is a HUGE bonus. If you can learn how this process works it will be very beneficial for you. At the elementary level the specials schedule isn’t a piece of cake either so learn that if you can. Principals are also working on budget and school improvement between now and the end of the year – see if you can spend time with your administrator after school to see how they do this work.
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