Indio High School Principal Derrick Lawson welcomed leaders from the National Association of Secondary School Principals to California May 17 for a stop on their 50-state school tour.

Lawson, ACSA’s State Coordinator for NASSP, hosted NASSP Executive Director Ronn Nozoe and NASSP President Gregg Wieczorek for the California site visit. Joining them to represent ACSA was Mary Gomes, Educational Services executive.

The day began with a greeting and presentation by students from the school’s National Honor Society chapter, which is sponsored by NASSP. Students shared their community service projects during the pandemic as well as their efforts to assist students to re-engage in the return to full in-person learning.

The tour continued with an opportunity to see the Mock Trial team and the specially designed campus courtroom, and the CTE academies in Future Farmers of America, Engineering, Health and Nutrition, Computer Networking, and the Institute of Media Production Arts & Creative Technology.

After visiting a senior English class to see station rotations for models of differentiation and engagement strategies post pandemic, they visited the visual arts program, where they saw the national top 50 entry in the Vans custom culture shoe art design and the ceramics program’s interdisciplinary efforts.

In the photography class, they met Indio Mayor Pro Tem Oscar Ortiz, who is serving as a long-term guest teacher following the COVID loss of beloved photo teacher Keith Jackson in January. This shows the clear mutual support between the school and city officials, according to Lawson.

During the daily live student broadcast, student anchors interviewed guests Nozoe and Wieczorek about their work in NASSP on behalf of students and schools. Both gentlemen shared that this was their first live student broadcast.

Students closed by asking what makes a good principal, based on what they see in school site leaders across all 50 states.

“What makes a great principal is someone who cares about kids and says, ‘That’s what’s most important to me is taking care of my students,’” said Wieczorek.

Following the visit, Nozoe shared on Twitter, “IHS Rajahs excellence on full blast! Mock trial, ceramics, National Honor Society, academies, full TV production, dual credit/early college, sports/clubs/academics — they do it ALL and are on fire! Thanks for hosting.”