Please share with your staff! MAESP sent the following information regarding Principal’s Day in Missouri. (I don’t think it matters what day you celebrate;)
For 27 years Missouri elementary school principals have celebrated “Elementary School Principals’ Day.” In many of those years Governors have made proclamations, PTA’s have organized events, teachers have recognized leaders, and students have celebrated principals in unusual ways for the impact a principal can have on the culture of a school community!The first Elementary School Principals’ Day was designated in late May in 1988 after many rural schools had dismissed for the year. It was later decided that Missouri Elementary School Principals Day would be changed to the first Wednesday in March immediately prior to the MAESP Annual Conference.In 1992 it became Missouri School Principals Day when the Missouri Association of Secondary Principals (MASSP) joined MAESP in encouraging the recognition of all principals throughout the state. The purpose of the proclamation and recognition has always been to encourage students, parents, board members, staff and patrons to focus on the importance of quality leadership at the building level and raise the visibility of school principals.These past couple of years the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association of secondary School principals (NASSP), collaborated to recognize the great work of school principals by declaring October as National School Principals Month. Having the celebration in October aligns with the national recognition programs of each organization. Even though MAESP and MASSP have made the commitment to align our Missouri Principal recognitions with NAESP and NASSP, I know many of your schools and communities will continue to celebrate your good work this next week!Schools have honored principals in various ways throughout the years… dress like the principal days, candle lights in the cafeteria for “candle light lunch”, donations to a charity in the principals’ names, surprise school assemblies, special edition school newsletters, notes of appreciation, and/or flowers. With that in mind, know that MAESP will continue to accept stories and pictures to publicize celebrations of school principals and the good work you do every day!From the MAESP Executive Board and myself – A GREAT BIG THANKS for all you do for your school community, a profession we all love, and the children whose lives you impact on a daily basis!Happy Principals’ Day – today and every day!
