Welcome to the New School Year!

Enjoy the Rest of Your Summer!  Gear-up for an Amazing School Year!

Take a deep breath and soak it all in! There are still a few weeks left to enjoy all the best parts of a Michigan summer—family time, beach days, grill outs, and campfires. Don't forget to savor those last lazy mornings, too.

As I step into my role as the Board President of the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA) for the 2026-27 school year, I am honored, humbled, and eager to take this journey with all of you.  Moving into my 25th year in education and 14th as an administrator, I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to support MEMSPA in a new capacity!  MEMSPA has been a constant source of support, connection, and growth in my own journey, playing a pivotal role in developing me into the principal and educator that I am today.  It has pushed, challenged, and grown me in ways I could not have imagined, allowing me to support the community that I serve.

As we move into this next year, with our amazing MEMSPA team and Executive Director Dr. Shanna Spickard, I am confident that we will navigate challenges, celebrate successes, and continue to learn and grow together.  I am confident this will be a year where we grow in the profession that we love, value, and deeply appreciate. 

Anchoring in 3 Core Messages.

My focus for the upcoming year will be anchored in three core messages:

• BE YOU: Bring your authentic self, your unique story, your strengths and weaknesses, and your distinct voice to this work.  We are in our roles for who we are and how we lead, period.  And while we may look to harvest qualities and ideas from other leaders, at our core, we need to be who we are.  Let’s leave our “leadership masks” at the door and focus on being our true selves for our students and staff each and every day.  No more imposter syndrome.
• ELEVATE OTHERS: True leadership isn't about standing above; it’s about lifting others up. When we uplift our teachers, staff, and students, we unlock their full potential.  When we lift our colleagues, we lift our profession.  Let’s find ways to support and elevate the great things that are happening in our buildings, our districts, and in our profession.  If we don’t, no one else will.  We need to celebrate this work and the amazing things that are happening in our own spaces and places!  Elevate people.  Elevate the work.  Elevate the profession.
• IMPACT COLLECTIVELY: None of us can do this alone! The power of this network, the power of MEMSPA, lies in our unity—when we share our knowledge, our experiences, and challenges in a collective voice we have a higher probability of pushing forward together.  In our communities, in our circles, and with our legislators, let’s all be dedicated to focusing on what’s important, what’s valued, and what truly matters in our profession.  With collective voice comes collective impact.

We See You.  We Value You.

Moving into this 2026-2027 school year, my hope is that you all know that we see you and we value you.  This work is incredibly difficult and comes with obstacles and hurdles that push us to the brink, exhaust us, and cause us to question our work and why we do it.  Whether it’s the teacher shortage, student trauma, teacher burnout, high-stakes testing, or the daily grind of leadership, know that we are in this together.  Know that your work is heroic, life-changing, and truly matters!  It is not for everyone, it is for those of us that care deeply about our students and our teachers.  It is for those of us that lead confidently, elevate others, and collectively support each other.  Thank you for your resilience, your passion, your service, and your steadfast commitment to our kids and to our profession.  

Launching Into An Amazing Year!

I wish you all an amazing year and say thank you for this opportunity. I am excited about all that lies ahead and the opportunity to connect with all of you, to hear about your schools, to collaborate, and to navigate this crucial work with all of you.  Let’s be who we are as leaders, elevate others and the work, and collectively impact those we serve each-and-every day. 

I appreciate you all.  Have a great year!

Sincerely,

Doug Ammeraal
President, MEMSPA 2026-2027