UXBRIDGE — Superintendent Michael Baldassare is pleased to share that Uxbridge High School Principal Michael Rubin attended the 2024 National School Leadership Advocacy Conference, hosted by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) from March 11-13.
Rubin, who is also the State Coordinator for Massachusetts for the NASSP, met with 11 members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation in Washington, D.C., including Representatives Lori Trahan and Jake Auchincloss. The NASSP discussed important legislation and action items to ensure the needs of students and educators are met.
Throughout the three-day conference, Rubin connected with advocacy experts and policymakers, including the U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. Items discussed included the implications of widespread shortages of principals and school support staff professionals across the country, a need for increased mental health support services for both students and staff in schools, and Title I and II budget priorities.
Several legislative items were proposed, including the Educators for America Act, which proposes a larger investment into the educator pipeline, boosts outreach efforts to future teachers, and increases funds for the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (TEACH) grant. The group also discussed the Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act, a bipartisan bill that requires the federal government to provide mental health resources for school staff.
“Our conversations with our representatives help them understand the implications of these legislative items,” Rubin said. “The real stories we share of our staff, students, families, and communities personalize these issues for those who aren’t involved at the local level and typically witness these shortcomings firsthand.”
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