Forging a New Forum for Professional Learning

I often start presentations with NAESP’s mission: to lead in the advocacy and support for elementary and middle-level principals and other education leaders in their commitment to all children. If you’ve ever worked on a mission statement, you know that each word is intentional and meaningful. This issue of Principal magazine leans into the NAESP mission’s focus on “support” for elementary and middle-level principals and educational leaders.

Professional support—or professional learning (PL)—is a top priority for NAESP. We recognize the crucial role school leaders play in the success of their schools and students, and PL helps you to stay updated on the latest research, adopt best and innovative practices, and gain the knowledge and skills to lead effectively.

To whom do we provide professional support? Though “elementary” is in our official name, we serve all pre-K, elementary, and middle-level school leaders. In addition to principals, that includes building-level educational leaders such as assistant principals, aspiring principals, and others.

Learning together face to face is the ultimate professional learning experience. Only in person can you network and collaborate with peers and foster a sense of community and support for the field of educational leaders. If you haven’t had this experience, I invite you to maximize your learning at UNITED: The National Conference on School Leadership.

UNITED is a new conference experience brought to you by NAESP and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. We have teamed up to combine our two summer conferences into one highly anticipated UNITED event that’s designed for pre-K–12 school leaders at all levels of the leadership journey, addressing their unique needs and challenges.

At UNITED, you will have the opportunity to connect with fellow school leaders who share your experiences and challenges, build valuable relationships through engaging discussions and collaborative sessions, and expand your professional network and gain insights from others in the field.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and grow your support system. As we carry out our mission to support you, make it your mission to take advantage of this in-person opportunity—as well as all of the other high-quality PL resources available to NAESP members.

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