Carmen Maring, Ed.D.
Principal, Gull Lake Middle School
Richland, Michigan
Candidate Statement
Better Together: Strengthening and Growing NAESP to Support Our Future
The largest issues that we face in education are rooted in a lack of belonging and connection that is felt at the community, family, school, and individual level. The exponential rise in pervasiveness and seriousness of mental health issues and associated behavioral challenges are disrupting learning environments in every school. Educators are struggling in the face of these increasing barriers and challenges to provide safe and learning focused environments. The domino effect is resulting in mentally ill and burned out educators, increased cognitive load from supporting others in both their personal and professional circles with these challenges, and even secondary trauma as a result of some of the circumstances that students and families arc bringing into our schools. The principalship has never mattered more than it does today!
Former surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy has made the case that loneliness has become a public health concern. In his book, Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World, he argues that loneliness is impacting student learning and adult work as well as leading to a focus on feeling division and polarization across the nation. As educators we know that connection and a sense of belonging is at the root of a high quality education and school community. This works both for students and for principals. Principals are often in the middle of the divide and polarization both from outside of the school and district walls and from within. As the middle manager between teachers and the. central office, principals can often feel like they are a silo or on an island. The principalship can be one of the lonliest occupations in the education profession.
Professional networks can provide an antidote to this feeling of isolation which can lead to increased performance. As a leader of NAESP, I am committed to supporting the organization’s work to connect principals in meaningful ways. Individually this is executed by going where the membership is and making authentic personal connections and encouraging principals to get involved in ways that are a right fit for their capacity and strengths. As a leader of NAESP, it means setting up systems of support so that every principal is connected to a network of colleagues. I recently saw a social media post on X that encapsulated my thoughts which said, “Adults need villages too, not just children. Surround yourself with good people.” NAESP can be the proverbial “village” for our principals across the nation to provide a voice of encouragement, hope, and high leverage strategies to make our schools the best they can be for the communities we serve.
There is an increasing prevalence of anxiety across the nation such that books like Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation is hitting #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list. Mental health issues have always been a part of a school although as a former school counselor and current principal, my experience has reflected that the pervasiveness, the depth, and the age at which these mental health issues are arising is getting wider, deeper, and younger. For example, in the past where we may have one serious eating disorder in the middle school every ten years, we currently have three students who are experiencing these challenges on a daily basis such that they are required to remain seated during their learning throughout the day because they are at such a high level of health risk and need ongoing additional supports to experience academic success.
In the first three weeks of this school year we have already supported five suicidal students. Educators are not adequately prepared for this level of mental health need. At the center of the mental health crisis in schools is the principal who is also responsible for setting the tone for building culture and supporting all of the educators and students with their varied challenges. We need to continue to offer high quality professional development that provides principals with the skills they need to set up effective systems of support, strategies for how to mine for staff and student issues before they become pervasive, and encouragement to self-assess for wellness and make necessary changes to prevent burnout, secondary trauma, decreased performance, and ultimate exiting from the profession.
In the midst of the educator shortage crisis, finding high quality principals will become increasingly challenging. As an organization we need to continue to engage in conversations about getting more individuals interested in the profession, onboarding and supporting early career principals, retaining and continuously growing returning principals and leveraging the experience of veterans to support early career principals. It is challenging to entice individuals to pursue a career as a principal when all they hear are sensational news stories and negative aspects of the job. Our job is one of the most impactful and important professions! I am committed to promoting the positive story and sharing our collective belief that education can change the world. Intentionally working with, and supporting the work of post-secondary institutions that are preparing principals will be a critical role in order to create a pipeline of support for educators going into the principalship. This will strengthen those who are going into the profession and retain them longer. We continue to need to determine strategic ways to impact the practices of our veteran principals and keep them engaged, encouraged, and energized through meaningful networking and high quality professional development. The continued challenge of balancing and meeting the needs of diverse individual needs while simultaneously finding and promoting a common narrative across the nation is what will continue to unite and strengthen us.
In order to enhance the hard work of NAESP leaders and staff, both present and past, a maintenance of financial health and continued focus on growing membership, particularly in underrepresented spaces, will be critical to maintain the organization and grow it’s capacity to provide a connection and belonging for all principals and to maintain a high standard of professional development and operation. If given the opportunity to lead in a Vice President, President-Elect, and ultimately President capacity for NAESP, I will balance management of the board and execution of the deep work of our professional organization. I am committed to living out the mission of NAESP personally, honoring the past leadership and the work that is presently occurring, as well as continuously leading from a belief that we can always grow and become better as individuals and as an organization.
Additional Information
Professional Preparation
- Ed.D., K-12 Educational Administration, Michigan State University, 2016
- M.A., Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology: School Counseling K-12, Western Michigan University, 2006
- B.A., Exercise Science, Psychology, Hope College, 2004
Professional Experience
- Principal, Gull Lake Middle School, Richland, MI, 2016- Present
- Assistant Principal, Thomas M. Ryan Intermediate, Richland, MI 2015-2016
- Dean of 6th Grade Academy, Gull Lake Middle School, Richland, MI, 2014-2015
- School Counselor, Thomas M. Ryan Intermediate, Richland, MI, 2007-2013
- School Counselor, Gull Lake Middle School, Richland, MI, 2007-2010
- GEAR UP Counselor, Bangor Middle School, Bangor, MI, 2006-2007
Professional Affiliations
- NAESP Board of Directors, Director At Large, Middle Level, 2022-Present
- MEMSPA Middle Level Chair, 2017-2025
- MEMSPA Region 4 Membership Co-Chair, 2016-2023
- MEMSPA Region 4, Middle Level Chair, 2019-2024
Other Positions
- District Critical Incident Stress Management Co-Coordinator, Gull Lake Community Schools, 2010- Present
- Past President, Gull Lake Area Community Volunteers, 2013-2014
- President, Gull Lake Area Community Volunteers, 2012-2013
- School Liaison, Gull Lake Area Community Volunteers, 2010-2011
- Board Member, Kalamazoo Counseling Association, 2007-2010
Professional Accomplishments
- Project Lead the Way Distinguished School, 2018-2019 and 2021-2022