A Letter to Members From the Executive Director of NASSP

By JoAnn Bartoletti, Executive Director, National Association of Secondary School Principals

This letter originally appeared in the May 2020 issue of Principal Leadership magazine

I’m sure none of us would have imagined we would be closing out the 2019–20 school year this way. As we look back on spring 2020 and the impact COVID-19 has had on our schools and communities, I hope you are always reminded that your efforts have been nothing short of heroic.

In this time of crisis, you looked for the opportunity. You are working tirelessly to ensure the success and well-being of each student and adult in your school communities. Since schools have closed, you have distributed millions of meals; led your faculty through the massive shift to remote learning; and sustained the spirits of your students, teachers, and the local community. This year, your success as a school leader won’t be measured in the number of work packets distributed or how much material was covered. It will be measured by how well your schools cared for the community and how you made them feel.

While COVID-19 has tempered the excitement and anticipation of the typical end of a school year, this extended school closure reminds us just how valuable face-to-face engagement with students is on a daily basis. It will likely provide us some clues on how to make the best use of the time we have with them. NASSP looks forward to engaging you in that discussion once we all come out on the other side of this crisis stronger and wiser.

As you continue to navigate these uncharted waters and a path for the 2020–21 school year, I encourage you to take care of yourself and stay connected. Current conditions can punctuate the isolation many principals already feel. Reach out to a colleague, activate your network, and maintain communication. Please remember that you are not enduring this crisis alone.

While your heroic efforts continue, NASSP is committed to reminding you of just this. We are here to provide you with the connections, discussion, and resources you need, while also advocating for the resources and conditions that will allow you to lead your school through these unfamiliar days.

Finally, thank you. Thank you for your leadership, your dedication, and your relentless efforts during these trying times. And thank you for allowing us to be a small part of your extraordinary work.

Sincerely,

JoAnn Bartoletti
Executive Director, NASSP