From the Executive Director, Addie Kaufman
It is holiday time, which means that things can get hectic and a bit challenging in school! I remember thinking, "I can't wait for winter break!" Hopefully you will get a bit of rest as you spend Thanksgiving with family and friends.
At this time of year, I always consider the things for which I am grateful and school leaders in Maryland are high on the list. Your commitment to education, your communities, your schools, your students and staff is remarkable. Despite the turmoil in the world around us, you continue to lead and educate on a daily basis. You ensure the safety of everyone for whom you are responsible, and you work hard to balance the demands of your job with the desires of your family.
If you attended our MAESP/MASSP Annual School Leaders Conference, you hopefully heard many messages about self care and balance during these challenging times. Additionally, I hope you brought new ideas back to your schools and created new or larger networks with colleagues around the state. The conference was a success with keynote addresses that were very well received. Thank you to Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Dyson (Frederick), Mr. Will Parker, and Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell (Anne Arundel) for sharing words of importance and inspiration.
Our presenters were also well received. Speaking on a variety of topics from artificial intelligence, the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, school safety, instructional leadership, assessment, student voice, self-care and much more, our presenters were well-prepared and engaging. In particular, I want to thank the students from the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) for coming to Ocean City and sharing critical information on AI and school safety. When students speak, adults listen!
When principals speak, legislators listen! MASSP will once again work with Senator Ben Kramer, from Montgomery County, to submit a bill that proposes principal membership on the Maryland State Board of Education. As I write this article, MASSP members are meeting with delegates and senators in the General Assembly to acquire additional sponsorship and support for this bill. With a teacher, student, and parent member of the board creating policies that must be implemented by school leaders, it is imperative for school leaders to have a seat at that same table! Please check your MASSP emails periodically to see the many ways in which you can assist us in this endeavor. Let's get this bill off the shelf and on to a vote; let's make this happen through one voice and strong leadership.
Leaders need rest and quality time with family and friends. Enjoy your Thanksgiving if you celebrate and/or your time off from school. Stay safe and be well.
Sincerely,
Dr. Addie Kaufman, Executive Director.
From our President, Michael Brown
Greetings MASSP Members! I hope you are preparing for a much-deserved Thanksgiving break. This time of year can be very challenging for school leaders. I know that there is usually an uptick in student misbehaviors, teacher absences, and not to mention we are in the middle of cold and flu season. All of this can lead to difficulty even getting to the holiday break. So, I must give each of you kudos for enduring this rough period and coming out the other side. Even though the challenges continue, realize that taking care of yourself is vital.
During our joint MASSP/MAESP Annual Conference we heard from some amazing keynote speakers. One of which came from Will Parker who said, “When you are on an airplane and they go over the safety regulations, they tell you in the case of an emergency, put on your mask before helping anyone else. If you as an educational leader don’t take care of yourself first, there will be nothing left for anyone else.” Let’s make sure over this holiday break to truly take a moment for yourself to refresh and recharge…you have earned it.
As President of MASSP, I am proud of our turnout for the joint MASSP/MAESP annual conference in Ocean City, MD. We all had an amazing time together! The professional learning sessions all were productive and those who attended really found value in the time collaborating and networking with other individuals from around the state. I want to give a huge shoutout to our conference planning committee, including Addie Kaufman (Executive Director), and MAESP for your diligence and time in making this conference a success. We truly have some of the most amazing people that are associated with this organization, who are always working hard to ensure that our members have all that they need.
In our last executive board meeting we discussed building on the successes of our joint conference in Ocean City and solidifying our membership across the state of Maryland. Some of our counties are stronger than others; however, my belief is that we will use the next few months to collaborate and work to create ideas that will increase our membership. We have done some fantastic things with the number of members that we have, but imagine if we maximized our potential as an organization? In my opinion, that would mean more lives impacted, more jobs saved, more leaders hired, legislation impacted, advocacy for all, and professional protection as times shift in the world of education. I am excited to work with all of you to reach our membership goals this year…together we can do it!
Lastly, let’s stay connected over the holiday break and beyond. Many of us made new connections from the annual conference; however, a relationship that is not cared for and nurtured fails. So, I encourage you to make that phone call or text to a new contact that you may have just met. Find some time and put them on your calendar soon. You never know where that new connection will take you. You never know where that new connection will take this organization. Remember to promote MASSP within your individual schools/districts. We are only as strong as our voice allows. If people don’t know the great things this organization stands for, then they will not want to join it. So, wear that MASSP gear…mention us in your meetings and during daily conversations. You are what makes the difference. Thank you as always for your time and energy in making MASSP what it is today. Stay well and stay blessed!
Michael Brown, Principal
Winters Mill High School
Carroll County
From our NASSP State Coordinator, Melissa Shindel
Last Monday I had the unique opportunity to attend a House Oversight Committee Roundtable on Gun Violence, hosted by Ranking Member Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland. Michelle Kefford, the current principal of Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School in Parkland, Florida, was one of five panelists who answered questions and shared her experience about the impact of gun violence at MSD. I was part of a group from NASSP including Ronn Nozoe, our Chief Executive Officer, who were there to support Michelle. Other Representatives who were present included Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton from the District of Columbia, Representative Maxwell Frost from Florida, Representative Dan Goldman from New York and Representative Greg Casar from Texas.
Principal Kefford described the ongoing trauma at MSD, even now almost 6 years later, and shared the urgent need for more mental health supports in our schools. She also shared a heartful, yet urgent message to members of Congress, that they have the power to change by appropriating more funding to federal programs like Project SERV (School Emergency Response to Violence), a critical lifeline to schools that have endured these tragedies. She also discussed NASSP’s Principal Recovery Network (PRN), which is made up of 21 current and former school principals who either suffered a shooting in their school or assumed leadership immediately after a shooting and are working through the long road to recovery. A group no one wants to be a part of, the PRN has been a critical support for school leaders who are thrust into this tragic situation. To learn more about the PRN, click here.
I wish you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving and a well-deserved break!
All the best,
Melissa Shindel
A Message From Your Membership Coordinator
MEMBERHIP
Congratulations, MASSP! Because of your efforts and the work of our board members, we have added 76 new members since our year began in July! Noteworthy districts with growth are Baltimore County, Calvert County, Frederick County, Harford County, Montgomery County, and Somerset County. Even a couple new members can make a big difference, especially as they spread the word for more to accept the many benefits offered by MASSP and NASSP. If you need a serious selling point, share this:
NASSP members
are covered with $2,000,000
personal liability protection and
accumulate legal fee reimbursement
up to $10,000 ($1,000 for each year of
continuous membership). Administrators
should join and should keep membership current.
Do you know teachers, counselors, or athletic directors who are considering a move into administration? Do you know people who recently retired or will soon retire from administration? Offer them the opportunity to join. Why?
We serve school administrators from aspiring through retiring!
Direct your or others’ membership questions to Ronnie Bohn at ronniebohn@mdmassp.org.
An AMAZING Opportunity for Your Students, and It Is Now FREE!
As PlayVS concludes the Fall 2023 season and heads into the new year, they are excited to share a new chapter in PlayVS history in making esports available to everyone. Beginning this Spring 2024 season, PlayVS will remove competition fees, enabling high schools to play in the highest tier of state and regional competition at no cost.
This is a commitment to reducing barriers and making PlayVS and esports more inclusive than ever. Effective November 14, 2023, PlayVS Spring Enrollment is OPEN!
If you have any questions or would like to get started, please reach the PlayVS team at gettingstarted@playvs.com or hear more from our new CEO, Jon Chapman.
Contact us or visit the MASSP website
10031 Old Ocean City Blvd., Suite 209
Berlin, Maryland 21811
443-545-9988
Ms. Ronnie Bohn, Membership Coordinator
410-707-0420
Ms. Carol LoSchiavo, Bookkeeper
