Massp Podcast

In this episode, Nina talks with Ms. Ebony Carter, Assistant Principal at Dakota High School about school safety protocols pre and post COVID.  Listen as Ms. Carter talks about the challenges they've overcome while trying to secure one of the largest high schools in the state. 

In this episode, Nina talks to two middle level secretaries about their job duties and how those have changed in the last few years.  The clerical staff talk about what keeps them motivated and the positives of their job.

Listen in as new Associate Director of Member Service & Outreach, Nina Davis, interviews attendees from the 2022 AP Summit in Crystal Mountain.

Travis Thomsen (Portage North MS) joins the podcast to discuss compassion fatigue awareness and the impact that this professional learning topic has had on his building staff.

In this episode, Amy Pashak, AP of the Freshman Campus at Howell HS, joined us to share about their new suicide prevention and awareness program called Hope Squads.  This nationally recognized initiative brings together student and teachers entrusted by their peers to train and help support students in need.

Michigan's  2022 Assistant Principal of the Year winner, Al Reickard (North Rockford MS), joins the podcast to share insight, tips and more from his career and experiences as an assistant principal and middle-level leader.

Principal Amy Hendry and Asst. Principal Stacey Ary of Carter Middle School (Warren Consolidated Schools) join the podcast to share their #DoKind initiative that has the entire school and community participating in random acts of kindness.  Listen and learn how they are utilizing social media to engage all stakeholders in this collaborative program to build positive school culture.

JoLynn Clark (Frankenmuth HS), Joe Esper (Traverse City West HS) & Tom Lietz (Utica HS) all join the podcast to share what has and hasn't changed with how their buildings are handling COVID-19 protocols at the start of the 2021 school year.  Mask mandates vs recommendations, contact tracing, quarantine protocols and more are all covered and their particular impact on HS students.

In this episode we welcome Regional Teacher of the Year and Khan Academy Student Ambassador, Erin Carlson of Sandusky Jr/Sr HS, to share insight about teaching in 2021.  We discuss what teacher's need, want administrators to know, and hidden gems that came from teaching and learning during the pandemic.

MASSP is joined by MCAN's Autumn Kearney, Strategy Manager for High School Innovation, to share details about their new grant programs.  This is a can't miss opportunity that will connect high schools with strategic partnerships, resources and financial awards from MCAN.  

In this episode, we are joined by middle-level leaders Nina Davis (L'Anse Creuse MS East), Tim Sanchez (Grayling MS) & Travis Thomsen (Portage Northern MS) as they discuss the return to school and what has and hasn't changed with how their buildings are handling COVID-19 protocols.  Mask mandates vs recommendations, contact tracing, quarantine protocols and more are all covered and their particular impact on MS students.

Being a strong building leader has been more important than ever during the pandemic.  Listen in as Tammy Jackson of MASSP talks about what skills are needed more than ever, how the leaders  adapt and what opportunities are available for prospective and new administrators to grow their practice.

Are you considering making the leap to the superintendent role?  Jay Bennett & Greg Sieszputowski of MASB's Executive Search Services share details on the current landscape of openings in the state, as well as the skills and experience that districts are looking for, interview tips to consider, and other important reminders.

In this episode, MASSP Director of Student Services, Matt Alley, invites some special guests from Ludington HS and Bay City Central HS to discuss their experiences with Esports.  Topics include starting up a team, benefits of practice & matches and how it compares to traditional extracurricular activities.

MASSP continues the conversation with the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) for this episode in which MCAN Executive Director, Ryan Fewins-Bliss, joins us in an attempt to waive the red flag about the state-wide college enrollment crisis.  Ryan shares some alarming statistics about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on college enrollment rates in Michigan, as well as some initiatives MCAN is promoting to combat the crisis.

Listen in as we partner with the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), and discuss how high school and college advisors are available to help guide, oversee and support college bound students across the state.  In this episode, MASSP is joined by Jenny McArdle of Advise Michigan, Micheal Turner from U o fM College Advising Corps and Laura Wise, College Advising Corps for MSU.

Listen in as Jason Reinecke (Principal, West Ottawa HS) and Jason Schrock (Principal, Howell HS) share their experiences using social media to connect with students, staff and parents.  Effective strategies and tips are also discussed from two of the best in the business!

In this podcast episode, Matt Alley, MASSP Director of Student Services, shares all of the new virtual opportunities student leaders and advisers can still join during the current virtual/remote environment.

Jennifer Bustard (Mona Shores HS), Andy Kowalczyk (Bay City Central HS) & Steve Carlson (Sandusky Jr/Sr HS) all return to to continue the conversation about the return to school in 2020-21 during the COVID-19 pandemic.  They share what challenges their buildings faced and what went well during the first few weeks after students and staff returned to the buildings.

The Return to School plan looks incredibly different at each district all across the state of Michigan as schools plan for instruction during the continued COVID-19 pandemic for the 2020-21 school year.  In this episode, Jennifer Bustard (Mona Shores HS), Steve Carlson (Sandusky Jr/Sr HS) and Andy Kowalczyk (Bay City Central HS) discuss their current plans for reopening and the discussions that lead to those decisions.  MASSP will follow up with all three guests after students and teachers return to see how the plans changed or adapted over the first few weeks of school.