SamTastic Weekly Tip: 10/5/26 - Anniversary Year

This week’s Tip: Anniversary Year

This is an anniversary year for the SAM Process: 25 years of service and our 20^th annual national conference.

Research shows the SAM process makes a significant difference benefiting students, teachers/staff and parents.  The NSIP Board and staff are committed to our mission and vision:

Mission: Provide a comprehensive process and set of tools to develop effective instructional leaders resulting in greater student success.

Vision: Increase principal time spent improving teacher practice and student outcomes.

There are two open Board seats.  One for a current SAM and one for a secondary SAM principal.  Applications will be accepted until October 18.  You’ll find the application links in this report from Board President Bert Hendee:

Your NSIP Board of Directors’ most recent meeting was held September 28, 2026 via Zoom.

As we have shared with you before but like to remind everyone, the NSIP Board of Directors meets two times a year in person.  One meeting is held in conjunction with the National Conference and one in the summer either June or July.  Two other virtual meetings may be held each year as well.  At each meeting we have updates from each member of the board and the executive director.  We are passionate about this work and always work towards improvements in our performance and support of NSIP.

During this most recent board meeting we discussed these things:

1.    Mark Shellinger gave us an update on the upcoming national conference.  As you know, this year it is being held in January in Summerlin, Nevada.  The SAM conferences are amazing opportunities for professional learning and this year’s keynotes look to be some of the best.  It’s also an opportunity to network with colleagues across the US as well as have fun together.  Don’t wait to register!  You don’t want to miss this.  The link is in this SamTastic Weekly Tip as well as through the NSIP website.

2.    We also talked about the two open board seats.  One is for a current, practicing SAM secondary principal and one is for a current, practicing SAM.  The links for these applications are in this SamTastic Weekly Tip.  We will accept applications until end of day (5 p.m. Eastern) on Friday, October 16.  We look forward to reviewing your application.  Please send them to Bert Hendee, bhendee2016@gmail.com

If you are interested and available to serve click the link below.

·       Board Seat Application: SAM: https://bit.ly/4y9omL7

·       Board Seat Application: Secondary Principal: https://bit.ly/3UtzTXc

If you have questions please feel free to reach out to any board member at any time.  Our contact information is on the NSIP website.

Best for a SamTastic week,

Mark

Mark Shellinger, Director

National SAM Innovation Project

70% of the seats have been taken for the the 20^th Annual National SAM Conference.  Here’s how to register:

·       Here’s the link to register: https://bit.ly/4zVNzdD

·       Here’s a link to the pre-conference all-day session descriptions: https://bit.ly/4A3zMSD

·       Here’s a link to the agenda: https://bit.ly/4il4gJe

·       To submit a proposal to be a breakout sessions presenter:  https://bit.ly/3TyCVcu

·       If you haven’t been to a National SAM Conference yet, view this short video:  https://bit.ly/4cxGEw7

Jenn David Lang’s The Main Idea is available to active SAM team members at no charge.  This online service provides comprehensive book summaries, professional development (PD) plans, and leadership workshops. Click here to be added to the weekly mailing list: https://forms.gle/ACrmUUPqtxFsYrCr7

Kim Marshall’s, The Marshall Memo is available to active SAM team members at no charge.  This weekly digital publication summarizes the most important articles in K-12 education.  Click here to be added to the weekly mailing list: https://forms.gle/8XBPjgJKSsjTg6167