On behalf of MASSP, thank you for the work you do every day across Minnesota. Thank you for choosing to lead during one of the most complex and scrutinized periods in public education. For our first-year and newer administrators, your learning curve has been steep, the expectations relentless, and the challenges real—yet you continue to show up, stand firm, and choose students every single day. Your presence in this work matters.

Leading a school today is not easy. You are navigating community polarization, student and staff mental health needs, safety concerns, and accountability pressures, all while working to preserve joy, hope, and humanity in your buildings. You carry the weight of decisions that rarely come with perfect answers. And still, you lead courageously—creating schools that are safe, welcoming, and affirming for every student, staff member, and community member who walks through your doors.

As a leader, you are the person people turn to—for answers, for calm, and for direction when the path forward feels uncertain. And, you do not have to carry this work alone! You can turn to colleagues who understand the work because they live it; and, you can turn to MASSP for support and connection. And through it all, your schools are better because of YOU.