NAESP Helps You Navigate Change

Education is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. Today’s school leaders are expected to be agile change agents, capable of steering their institutions through uncharted waters while ensuring educational excellence. This paradigm shift demands a new approach to leadership—one that embraces uncertainty and views change as an opportunity rather than an obstacle.

As I travel the country to meet with school leaders, I hear about the relentless pace of change in our education system. School leaders are constantly adapting to new initiatives and policies. Amid perpetual transformation, navigating shifts isn’t just an occasional challenge; it has become our new normal.

Resources at the Ready

At NAESP, we understand the challenges you face. We’re committed to providing you with the tools, resources, and support you need to lead change, no matter your career stage in leadership. A great place to start is NAESP’s Resource Hub, which features:

• Current and archived issues of Principal magazine;
• Content featured in the digital newsletters Communicator, New Principal Navigator, and APs Rising;
• Almost 100 episodes of the NAESP Principal Podcast;
• E-books with curated, content-relevant topics in school leadership; and
• Webinars and videos, including NAESP’s Leadership Conversations series.

The Power of Peer Networks

NAESP also offers its members the benefit of peer networking through its suite of communities of practice—a game-changer when navigating change. These networks go beyond information-sharing to serve as dynamic ecosystems of innovation and resilience.

I invite you to join a community. Our communities of practice encourage adaptive thinking that allows leaders to view challenges as opportunities for systemic improvement rather than isolated problems, and they inspire collaborative innovation that harnesses the collective intelligence of the school community to generate real and effective solutions.

Recognizing School Leaders

We know that school leaders must go beyond simply navigating change to direct it—that much is evident when we connect with our volunteer leaders. NAESP volunteers are the backbone of the association, and we can’t thank them enough for their commitment to our shared mission.

During Volunteer Appreciation Week, April 20–26, we are especially thankful for the contributions of our volunteers. Aside from helping shape the association, volunteers forge connections with colleagues across the country, share their expertise, and enhance their leadership skills. Volunteers truly make a difference in the organization and in the principal profession.

We take pride in celebrating our members any chance we get. I hope you’ll join NAESP in celebrating Middle-Level Education Month and Women’s History Month in March, as well as National Assistant Principals Week, April 7–11. As we celebrate you, we hope you’ll share the stories that make your school communities thrive, too.

Together, during an era of rapid change, we can turn challenges into opportunities, foster resilience through innovation, and harness the power of diverse perspectives to help schools thrive in the present and shape education for generations to come.

L. Earl Franks, Ed.D., CAE, is executive director of the National Association of Elementary School Principals.