May 7, 2026

In Search of Professional Development for Principals? 

I have been asked in recent years for professional development resources for principals. The Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association, MESPA, and the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals, MASSP, have provided me with the following information that I believe you will find useful.

MESPA

Invest in leadership growth through Principal Pathways — a comprehensive professional learning series designed specifically for school leaders. Choose from: Aspiring Principals; Leadership Launch for first-year principals; Elevate Leadership for early career principals; and Empowering Excellence for principals with experience. Each series provides relevant learning, collaboration, and practical strategies tailored to the unique needs of leaders throughout their professional journey. Encourage your principals to register and take advantage of this meaningful opportunity for professional growth and connection.

• Flyer

• Workshops webpage

Also offered is Managing to Lead, a two-day workshop for principals and their admin assistant(s) that is being offered in three locations:

• Bemidji, June 9-10

• Duluth, June 16-17

• Plymouth, June 23-24

Here is a link to more information about Managing to Lead: https://www.mespa.net/m2l

MASSP

Four different Principal Pathways series are offered (registration links are in the PDF).

In addition a Leadership Retreat is offered in August that is focused on principals and their teams being ready for the school year. 

Attention Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents: Please Complete the Annual Salary Survey

Last week, you received an email from Taylor Ethen of MASA asking you to complete a salary survey. Only those who complete the survey will receive the results later this summer. 

I respectfully request that you find a few moments to take the survey, as it helps our colleagues negotiating a subsequent contract or assists new superintendents negotiating their first contract.

If you can’t find the email from Taylor, please click here to access the survey!  Thank you!

Have you confirmed your MASA membership for 2026–27?
Thank you to those who have already completed the membership census form sent on April 20, 2026. If you haven’t yet, please take a few minutes to do so. This step ensures your information is accurate before invoices are sent the week of May 18.

You can access your census through your Member Compass, where you’ll see “Membership Renewal Survey for 2026–27” at the top of your dashboard if you have not yet completed the information. 

If you have any questions about your census form, please contact Sara at sara.klecker@mnasa.org.

Leadership Matters!

“Great leadership does not mean running away from reality. Sometimes the hard truths might just demoralize the company, but at other times sharing difficulties can inspire people to take action that will make the situation better.” - John Kotter

Permanent School Fund Constitutional Amendment Resource

 A Guide to the Minnesota’s Permanent School Fund Constitutional Amendment prepared by our friends at MSBA that you can share with your staff, school board and community. We have a lot of education to do around what the constitutional amendment is all about.