Blog
What I Brought Home From LEAD
As students, we are frequently told, "You are the leaders of tomorrow." Although a lovely sentiment, it ignores the fact that we are also the leaders of today. I used to passively accept that "tomorrow" timeline from others. However, it was not until I returned from the LEAD Conference earlier this month, carrying much more than I anticipated, that I truly understood the significance of...
Student Leadership
What to Know About the All-New Second Step® Tiered Interventions
It’s not easy being in middle school. As students navigate an increasingly complex world, they’re also dealing with major changes to their bodies and brains. For kids with additional needs—be they academic, behavioral, social, or emotional—the stakes are even higher. The Second Step® team understands that while educators want to go above and beyond to give those students the extra support they need, the resources to do so aren’t always available—or affordable. (more…)
Guest Blogs
Our Student Showcase for Black History Month
South Florida is a cultural melting pot, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, is no different. Our 3,100 students represent a wide variety of cultures, which we celebrate intentionally 365 days of the year. (more…)
School Leadership, Student Leadership
How Our NEHS Chapter Supports Students Experiencing Stress and Anxiety
As an adviser, I’ve always felt that I am not the driver of our National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS) chapter. Instead, I’m more like the bumper making sure that everyone is safe and then covering everything as an administrator. I let my students direct the path that our chapter takes in the way of service projects because I want the projects that we do to...
Mental Health/Wellness, Student Leadership
Getting Your Honor Society Ready for Spring Inductions
Spring induction season is a time of celebration and reflection. It’s when chapters honor students for their academic excellence and welcome new members to their school's NHS chapter. For advisers, it’s also a rewarding opportunity to recognize scholarship, service, leadership, and character in action. (more…)
Student Leadership
Insights Into Peer Supports From the National Student Council
A recent publication by the Partnership for Student Success (PSS) at the Johns Hopkins University Everyone Graduates Center highlights several models for how high school students can be meaningfully involved in support roles that foster success for both those giving and receiving support. After all, peer influence is a powerful driver of student engagement and...
Student Leadership
The Giving Tree
I’ve always dreaded winter break. While my classmates looked forward to family celebrations, I prepared for loneliness. The absence of a “normal” family weighed heavily on me, a quiet ache I carried this time of the year. Christmas, once magical in my childhood, slowly lost its warmth the older I got, leaving only reminders of...
Student Leadership
Advocating for My Sister With National Student Council on Capitol Hill
Growing up with a little sister with Down syndrome has meant seeing both the beauty and the flaws in how our society treats people with special needs. From watching her cry at home and repeating, “I have no friends,” to watching her face light up when she is with friends who truly accept her, I...
Education Policy, Student Leadership
5 Tips to Encourage Students to Apply for the NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award
Each year, NJHS recognizes 500 middle level students for their commitment to the five pillars of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship through the Outstanding Achievement Award (OAA). The students selected receive a $500 college savings plan to support their educational aspirations. (more…)
Student Leadership
Meet a 2025 NHS Chapter Pillar Award Winner
Each year, NASSP recognizes around 200 NHS and NJHS chapters with Pillar Awards for embracing Honor Society core values. There are five award categories: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, Character, and Overall Excellence. Winners receive a digital recognition package, including a seal for their chapter website. (more…)
Student Leadership
NHS Chapter Essentials for Every Milestone
Running an NHS chapter is an exciting responsibility—but it also comes with a lot of moving pieces. Whether you’re preparing for inductions, celebrating senior achievements, or recognizing student leadership throughout the year, having the right tools on hand makes everything smoother. Here are a few chapter essentials every adviser should keep stocked: (more…)
Student Leadership
4 Reasons to Engage in Student Council This Year
Ever since my election last spring to the National Student Council, I’ve met some amazing people from our officers’ team, our fantastic state representatives, and our national advisers from NASSP, Ann Postlewaite and Taryn Erminio. However, getting to this point and being able to experience these opportunities is something I would have never imagined for...
Student Leadership
4 Reasons to Build Your Career Pathway Program With NASSP
September is Workforce Development Month, a time for school leaders to consider how they are preparing students for the careers of tomorrow. In a rapidly evolving job market, the traditional path isn't the only route to success. Principals like you can ensure students have access to pathways, bridging the gap between education and meaningful employment. But where...
Education Technology and Innovation
Another Chance to Teach the 4 NHS Pillars
Kathryn Kula For NHS advisers, a new school year brings fresh opportunities to develop the next generation of student leaders. Here, Kathryn Kula, a chemistry teacher and NHS and student council adviser at Jefferson Township High School in Jefferson, NJ, shares how she helps students better understand and uphold the four pillars of NHS. (more…)
Student Leadership
Meet NASSP Middle Level National Assistant Principal of the Year Liz Nelson
Elizabeth “Liz” Nelson, the associate principal of Pilgrim Park Middle School in Elm Grove, WI, was recently named NASSP’s 2025 Middle Level National Assistant Principal of the Year. We asked her about the honor and what it means to her and her school. (more…)
School Leadership
Four Tips to Make Middle School Graduation a Success
At Butler Middle School in Waukesha, WI, where Laura Jennaro is the principal, more than 250 eighth graders will gather in June for the last event of their middle school years: graduation. The school calls it a recognition ceremony to keep the focus on recognizing students’ varied achievements and to help them celebrate a milestone...
School Leadership
Sharing My Real Mental Health Journey
Mental health advocacy is my passion. This past year I’ve put everything I can into it by sharing my story. For a long time though, when I tried to speak about my mental health, I tended to filter my words. I would always spin what I was saying into a more positive story and ignore...
Mental Health/Wellness
Celebrating National Student Leadership Week in Puerto Rico
The student council at TASIS Dorado, a private school in Dorado, Puerto Rico, has a tradition of celebrating National Student Leadership Week (NSLW) to honor students who might not get the recognition they deserve as student leaders. This week, TASIS Dorado students and their adviser are looking at ways to make their celebration even larger...
Student Leadership
How Student Ambassadors Bring Fresh Ideas to Our Middle School
I’ve spent most of my career as an educator at Rogers Park Middle School in Danbury, CT, including the last seven years as principal. A big thing I’ve always believed in, as a teacher and an administrator, is student voice. One way to incorporate student voice into how we teach and learn is to seek...
Student Leadership
What Inclusion Means to Me
For some people, inclusivity is just a buzzword. For my family, it means so much more. My younger brother Patrick was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. I was five at the time and didn’t realize that Patrick would eventually have relationships that would look different than mine. As we got older, I...
Student Leadership