LEADERSHIP MEMO
October/November 2025
Team,
Greetings and Happy National Principal Month! I have heard it said (perhaps only half-jokingly) that if your occupation has a month devoted to its recognition you are probably underappreciated. While I would not necessarily say our building-based school leaders are not appreciated I would say that often your efforts are taken for granted, misunderstood, and in many cases, not given the fullest level of credit for what it takes to engage in the role of being a school leader. This month does provide us opportunities to shout out the critical role of building principals and the vital importance of what it means to have an effective principal in every school. Kudos to our principals (and those assistants who work alongside them) for what you do for our students and communities!
We have been hearing a lot of late about the start of the Key Bridge rebuilding project, how it will get paid for, how should that process take place, etc. and each day that goes by it makes us realize just how indispensable the bridge really was and how it impacted the lives of countless Marylanders. In many ways you are "indispensable bridges" for your school communities. The roles you play in making connections is indispensable. You are often taking people from a sense of uncertainty to confidence, confusion to clarity, and from feelings of anxiety and agitation to calmness. You are truly the bridge, the constant and predictable presence that people count on to help get them from one point to another. As Executive Director, I commit to help make sure you as leaders are supported to do this incredibly difficult and necessary work and to help you make even stronger connections moving forward.
Lastly, I would like to congratulate Ricardo Hernandez (Seneca Valley High School) as our new President-Elect! Ricardo was selected at our September 20th Executive Board meeting and will do an outstanding job supporting our President, Kris Hemstetter and helping to lead our organization forward. In addition, we welcome Linda Chandler as our new State Advocacy Coordinator. She was also elected at the September 20th meeting and will replace Melissa Shindel who has decided to step down after over 6 years of dedicated service in that role.
As we enter National Principal Month, please know that although at times you may feel undervalued the reality is there are innumerable stakeholders out there who greatly appreciate the critical jobs you do. Keep building those bridges and supporting the success of our thousands of students in our Maryland secondary schools! I wish each of you as our members the very best as we move into October and the fall season. Take care and don't hesitate to reach out to me with thoughts, questions or ideas moving forward.
Always remember that YOU make a difference!
Sincerely,
Chris
443-545-9988
Colleagues,
It is an honor to serve as your MASSP President this year. As school leaders, we stand at a unique moment in Maryland’s educational journey. The work before us is both urgent and inspiring: implementing the Blueprint with fidelity, ensuring the principal’s voice is heard in every decision that impacts our schools, and creating the conditions where students and staff can thrive.
My theme for this year is connection, relationships, and transparency. The strength of MASSP lies in our ability to come together as leaders—to share ideas, challenges, and solutions—and to support one another in the daily work of leading schools. I am committed to keeping us connected across regions, lifting your voices, and celebrating the incredible leadership happening in every corner of our state.
In the months ahead, you will see MASSP leaning into:
Advocacy – Ensuring principal perspectives drive Blueprint implementation and legislative priorities.
Professional Growth – Expanding opportunities for learning that are relevant, practical, and empowering.
Membership Engagement – Building stronger connections through regional visits, networking events, and new platforms for sharing your stories.
This year, I’ve also had the privilege of being recognized as Maryland’s High School Principal of the Year—an honor that I see as a reflection of the amazing work of principals across our state. It reminds me daily of the importance of elevating our collective voice and shining a light on the impact of school leadership.
Thank you for the privilege of serving alongside you. I look forward to the year ahead—one of connection, collaboration, and collective impact.
With gratitude and pride,
Kris R. Hemstetter
President, Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals
2025 Maryland State High School Principal of the Year
Now is the time to register for Maryland's premier professional development event focused on school leaders, planned by school leaders, and delivered by school leaders! There are engaging pre-conference sessions on AI and Blueprint occurring Thursday the 6th (with a Thursday Night Football watching party, with complimentary food and drinks, happening in the hotel lounge), fantastic sessions covering many relevant topics and delivered by trusted colleagues on the 7th, great keynote speakers all three days, and a great closing on Saturday the 8th with BOOM sessions! The venue received outstanding feedback last year and we are excited to again engage with our leaders from across the state! Click on the conference graphic for more information! We can't wait to see you there!
We are partnering with Learning Forward to present virtual professional development sessions for building based leaders focused on relevant and timely topics. Our first session will be on October 22nd at 4:00 p.m. and delivered by our President Kris Hemstetter and Tia Washington from the University of Maryland. Click on this link to see the topics that will be offered monthly: MASSP Learning Forward PD Sessions
We hope to see you there on October 22nd and at the other sessions to learn and grow with colleagues!
Congratulations to our new State Advocacy Coordinator Linda Chandler (Old Mill Middle School South), was selected to replace Melissa Shindel at our September MASSP Executive Board meeting. Linda is fully prepared to work hard to represent your best interests at both the state and national level.
Many thanks to Melissa for her many years of outstanding service in this role!
For this upcoming year we will focus on working closely with the State Board of Education to ensure clear communication and opportunities for input from our members. We are happy to see that Marcy Leonard, former principal of Wilde Lake High and longtime HCPS leader, is the newest member of the State Board!
We will also be tracking state and federal legislation and will be again working closely with NASSP to ensure strong advocacy across al levels!
How will you plan on taking time to recognize and celebrate the many great things happening in your classrooms, schools and communities? Never hesitate to celebrate!
Here is the link to access all information related to Maryland State Board of Education meetings including agendas, minutes and videos: MD State Board Meeting Agendas Minutes and Videos
Here is the link to the July MASC Bulletin:
Here is the link to the August MASC Bulletin:
https://mrskcrawford.wixsite.com/so/b5PXMIm4n?languageTag=en
Here is the link to the September MASC Bulletin:
Here is the link to the October MASC Bulletin:
https://mrskcrawford.wixsite.com/so/26PaHcZyy?languageTag=en&cid=e77265be-72d5-4f56-a31c-a7036de10212
Contact us or visit the MASSP website
Thank you to our MASSP Partners
MASSP/MAESP Joint Partners:
Josten's
Lifetouch
Horace Mann
Edmentum
MASSP Partners:
American College of Education (ACE)
Avalon
EPI
Grand Canyon University
eDoctrina
AIM Institute
Maryland Non-Profit Partners:
Arts Education for Maryland Schools (AEMS)
Council of Educational, Administrative, Supervisory Organizations of Maryland (CEASOM)
Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC)
Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS)
Special Olympics Maryland
