In this MESPA Advocate, you see the principals who received recognition at Institute 2007. It is these principals, who have taken on a leadership role, that help to continue the excellence that MESPA has shown over the years. The MESPA organization may be run from the TIES building in Roseville, but that is not MESPA. MESPA is the work completed by the members in the twelve divisions throughout Minnesota. MESPA is the president and president-elects representing those divisions and listening to and acting upon the ideas of other Minnesota elementary principals.

The MESPA legislative agenda was developed by principals. It is principals who are at all of the TRA board meetings, watching to be sure we are being represented. It is principals who are working in their buildings on special projects and then writing about those projects in this Advocate magazine. It is the elementary principals of Minnesota who are MESPA.

MESPA leadership should not be taken for granted. MESPA leadership needs to come from within. If we do not have good leadership in our organization, we will get lost in the shuffle.  Those of us who have accepted a leadership role in the MESPA organization also have taken on this extra duty for all principals. We all need to take a look into ourselves and see if there is a place for a similar role. MESPA leadership will move forward with forward thinking people.  People like Bill Book - Moundsview - Retirement; Mark French - Osseo - Negotiations; Celeste Carty - St. Paul - Legislative; Bonnie Johnson – Anoka-Hennepin - Membership; Kathy House - Robbinsdale - Communications; Jon Millerhagen - Bloomington – Minnesota Schools of Excellence;  Mary Hanson - Madelia - Educational Advisory: all chair a MESPA committee and help to continue MESPA’s excellence in the educational community of Minnesota.

You may recall my story about the pond I built last summer. I was unable to build that pond and waterfall alone. My wife took a role; my son took a role; the local landscaping stores took a role (and a lot of cash), but we all did it together and it was successful. When I turned on the pump for the first time, it didn’t work. It took my wife Mary Beth, with all of her patience, to tell me to relax and wait. Wait for the air bubbles to work their way through the system. Wait for the pressure to increase. Wait for the system to work together in order for it to work properly. 

Like so many things in life, MESPA works when we all wait until all cylinders are firing at the same time. All of us working together in order to make MESPA the kind of organization that we all want it to be - an organization that meets the needs of Minnesota principals.

Now is the time of year when we put together the leadership of MESPA for the next two years.  President-elects are looking for a few good principals to help continue the excellence and leadership for divisions. President-elects are looking for colleagues to represent divisions on each of the committees mentioned above.  What do you get?  MORE MEETINGS! And forward thinking involvement. Take a look into your organization and decide where you fit. There really is a place for all of you - and you are needed!