From the President -Can you believe spring is finally here? I know I am looking forward to everything that spring means; a break from school, time for family gatherings, and those first buds of flowers showing their tops. It’s really about renewal isn’t it?... Read on >

Dear Members - I’m surprised!  We at MEMSPA surveyed the concept, surveyed the topics, surveyed the date, and found some of the best attorneys in our state to present at our Legal Issues Workshop on Wednesday, April 30…and only 25 participants have signed up so far: Read on >

The Reading Principal - Bill Rich, MEMSPA Past President and principal of McFall Elementary School with the Thornapple Kellogg Public Schools, will share his love of reading to students with MEMSPA members in a regular article titled, The Reading Principal.  In each article, Bill will share a favorite book that has been “field tested” with elementary students. This month, Bill discusses Wombat Stew by Marcia Vaughn.
Read on >

Under the Dome - Ease of communication is an understatement of the time in which we live.  On my most recent trip to Washington, I had the privilege of hearing a presentation from staff at the Congressional Management Foundation.  This presentation included data on the number of pieces of communication sent to members of Congress and how those offices handle that correspondence.
Read on >

Legal Issues Seminar - Attend a one-day workshop designed for elementary and middle school principals to be brought up to speed on a number of legal issues that school administrators face every day.  A team of attorneys from Thrun Law Firm, serving as legal counsel for the majority of Michigan K-12 and intermediate school districts, and Mr. James Moore, from our own MEMSPA retained law firm, Gregory, Moore, Jeakle, Heinen & Brooks, will present information...Read on >

School's Out! - Ok, not quite, but it's not too early to start planning for the MEMSPA-PAC School's Out Golf Outing. This year we've added a special twist. The night before, we are inviting members to join fellow principals for a night out in Lansing at the Lansing Lugnut's home baseball game against Fort Wayne. Read on >

NAESP Elections - It's that time of year when NAESP members come to the polls to cast votes for NAESP President-Elect. Each NAESP member will receive a ballot that will be mailed April, 15, 2008. All members are encouraged to vote and return their ballots by May 15, 2008 (postmark deadline). The Election Audit Board will meet on May 22, 2008, at NAESP headquarters to supervise the opening and counting of ballots. All active members of MEMSPA are members of NAESP. To review bios of the candidates, click here >

2008 Internationalizing Michigan Education Conference - All the economic, political and social trends point to the need for Michigan's students to be ready as never before to understand and engage in the wider world in which we live. The second annual Internationalizing Michigan Education conference is scheduled for April 18, 2008 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center on the campus of MSU. This conference will help participants situate Michigan in the international context, with special emphasis on areas and cultures - mainland Asia, the Indian sub-continent, sub-Saharan Africa and South America - that are likely to provide the greatest opportunities and challenges over the next 50 years. Read On >

Time S t r e t c h e r s - Do you wish you had more time to get things done? If you are like me at all, you know the value of an extra minute. Try these suggestions to help add minutes to your hours. Read on >

Parent Handout - Feel free to pass this handout, courtesy of the Educational Research Service, along to parents and teachers in your building. These helpful tips for supporting children in early reading range from common sense to very helpful. <<Download>>

Article Submission - Have you ever read an article from a magazine, newsletter, or other source and thought, "I should pass this along to others,"? If you come across an article or have a story worth passing along to your colleagues, please contact Peter at peter@memspa.org.