Advise Magazine

School leadership isn’t getting simpler—it’s getting more complex. Every day, you balance student well-being, staffing, and systems with evolving expectations. Get a handle on it all at NPC27 this February in Tampa, FL. Here’s why you need to attend: 1. A National Community That Understands the Work NPC27 brings together principals and assistant principals from across the country. Connect with leaders who understand the reality of your role. This is a space where conversations go beyond the surface.

At Sward Elementary School in Oak Lawn, IL, supporting mental health is a yearlong goal we are always working toward. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I’m happy to share some strategies we’ve implemented in our school to ensure our students have the tools they need to foster self-awareness and self-regulation. 1. Develop a morning routine. We start every day with 15 minutes of social and emotional (SEL) learning in each classroom.

| | Mental Health/Whole School Wellness/SEL, School Culture & Climate The end of the school year can bring up a variety of emotions. Many of us are relieved about the break ahead, but it’s also normal to feel sadness, frustration, and plain old fatigue—especially when testing, graduation, and perhaps a few behavioral spikes are on the calendar ahead. I find that taking a deep breath and eating a snack can solve a surprising number of concerns.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) announced today it is joining a national coalition supported by The Allstate Foundation to expand youth-led service opportunities across the country. As part of the effort, NASSP will receive a $2 million grant from The Allstate Foundation that will empower youth-led service opportunities for over one million National Honor Society (NHS) and National Association of Student Councils (NASC) students.

Much of what I read as a principal is tied to immediate needs. Emails, reports, data, policies. Each requires attention and often a quick response. While necessary, this type of reading rarely allows time for reflection. Reading for the “Syllabus” section of Principal Leadership magazine has been different. It has created space to pause, think, and engage more deeply with ideas that shape our work in schools. What I have gained most from this experience is perspective.

For schools that begin in August and end in June, the 2025–26 school year is almost over. That means that here at Kaʻiulani Elementary School in Honolulu, HI, we’ve already started planning our promotion ceremony. It’ll be a celebration that unites our Hawaiian ‘ohana (family) with a unique blend of history, hula, and chocolate haupia pie. Our school is named for Princess Ka’iulani, the Hawaiian princess, who was an activist during the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in the late 1890s.

Today, Liberty County High School in Hinesville, GA, is proud to begin celebrating National Student Leadership Week. Our school’s theme this year is “Lead the Way!” Events have been organized by our student council and National Honor Society (NHS) chapter. All clubs and student organizations are invited to participate in a week full of meaningful activities that promote leadership, unity, and school pride.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) has named its 2026 National Principals and Assistant Principals of the Year—four educators whose work offers a ground-level answer to some of the most pressing challenges in American schools today: mental health, student discipline, teacher isolation, and achievement gaps.

| | Recruitment, Retention, and Career Growth, School Culture & Climate, School Leadership In honor of AP Week, April 6–10, School of Thought asked Jana Clark, the principal of Boyd Elementary School in Boyd, TX, to highlight the stellar work of Cortnie Bryan, the assistant principal. In many schools, it’s work that often goes unseen. But it’s vital to the success of all school communities PreK–12. How does AP Bryan make your school better?

NASSP reacted to Fiscal Year 2027 federal education budget proposed by the Trump Administration: “This budget asks the most vulnerable students in America to bear the burden of federal cost-cutting,” said Ronn Nozoe, CEO of NASSP. “While we’re thrilled NASSP school leaders successfully pushed for additional funding for students with special needs, slashing programs that support English learners, migrant students, and educator preparation will cause lasting harm to our kids.