Representation at the national level has always been important to Michigan school board members and MASB. In this episode, we talk with new Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer John Heim, Ph.D. from the National School Boards Association about his background and how the association is moving forward and pivoting to serve its members.

With a new calendar year underway, we look ahead to what 2023 may bring for Michigan public education. Joining us are Executive Directors Tina Kerr, Ph.D. from the Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators, David Martell, CPA, CFO from Michigan School Business Officials and Wendy Zdeb from the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals.

It’s our annual conversation with the Michigan Teacher of the Year—Nanette Hanson from Escanaba Public Schools is the 2022-2023 recipient. She shares a U.P. connection with MASB Executive Director Don Wotruba, CAE and talks about her surprise at being nominated as well as her strong belief in building relationships with her students’ parents and social-emotional learning.

There are many organizations in the Michigan public education arena. We talk with the new Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators, John Severson, Ph.D., about how we collaborate and listen at the state level, as well as how ISDs and locals work together for the common good of their communities.

We had the pleasure of speaking to the 2023 Michigan Superintendent of the Year Monica Merritt, Ed.D. from Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. She shared some personal and district successes along with how she’s handled contentious issues. From her experiences, she hopes any person or district can take the example she intentionally (or unintentionally) sets and use it in their lives or community.

Michigan’s students deserve all the help, direction and opportunities they can get in education, employment and life. Youth Solutions, a nonprofit organization based in Benton Harbor, has been providing programs and services to equip young people with the skills to overcome barriers and succeed. Director of Strategic Operations Sonya Blanzy joins us in this episode to shed light on their mission and activities.

We live in a society that often does not value the importance of keeping our promises. It’s too easy to say, “I’ll get to it later.” Alex Sheen, #MASBALC 2022 General Session speaker and the Founder of because I said I would., a social movement and nonprofit dedicated to the betterment of humanity through promises made and kept, talks with us about how his organization is aiming to make a difference, including with kids, by teaching about self-control, honesty and accountability.

It’s one of the largest industries in the world and a rising league-based school club in your district—Esports is a hit with Michigan students. In this episode, we talk with Ryan Cayce, Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals’ Director of Digital Learning & Resources/Director of Esports, on how a district can get involved as well as how this team-based extracurricular is beneficial to a district’s students and its finances.

What is the difference between respect and dignity and why is it important in our classrooms? Rosalind Wiseman, Cofounder of Cultures of Dignity and one of the 2022 General Session speakers at MASB’s Annual Leadership Conference, tells us how we can shift the way we think about young people’s physical and emotional wellbeing. She is also the author of “Queen Bees and Wannabes,” the inspiration behind the movie and Broadway show, “Mean Girls.”

A new school year brings known and unknown legal hurdles. Brad Banasik, J.D., MASB Legal Counsel and Director of Labor Relations/Policy, joins us on the show to talk about what he thinks all districts should pay attention to for 2022-2023.