On May 12, the Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators (MASA) delivered its second-ever MASA Impact Award, surprising students in grades K–2 at Edgewood Elementary School in Freeport with 300 “Summer Spark Packs.” These vibrant, engaging kits were designed to support learning and spark joy throughout the summer months.
Edgewood Elementary was selected for this recognition after Superintendent Jason Kennedy received the Spring 2025 MASA Impact Award at MASA’s annual Midwinter Conference.
What began as a small spark of inspiration from the MASA team has quickly grown into one of the organization’s most heartwarming initiatives. Thanks to the generous support of MASA’s strategic partners, the organization is able to fully fund this unique gift, blending community spirit with creativity.
Each Spark Pack – thoughtfully curated for young learners – included a drawstring backpack personalized with each child’s name. Inside, students discovered a colorful assortment of items, including bubbles, chalk, crayons, pencils, notepads, watercolor paints, Play-Doh, craft foam, and a small heirloom vegetable planting kit with pot, soil, and seeds. To help families make the most of these materials, MASA also provided a custom activity guide with extension activities for several of the items.
Beyond the Spark Packs, the Impact Award included a meaningful year-end classroom activity aligned with Edgewood’s motto: “Edgewood Rocks.” Every K–2 classroom received enough rocks for each student to paint their own. Teachers had the flexibility to use the activity in ways most meaningful to their students – whether as a symbol of belonging and school pride or as a creative way to spread kindness in the broader community.
Though this is only the second time MASA has presented the Impact Award, the initiative is already receiving an enthusiastic response. “Being part of MASA and the MASA Impact project has been a powerful reminder that leadership is not just about systems and structures,” said Superintendent Jason Kennedy. “Leadership is about the people, the purpose, and the ‘why’ of what we do. This project is so meaningful because it gets to the heart of what we do – students, their growth, and their learning.”
As the MASA Impact Award continues to grow, so does its mission: to recognize outstanding educational leadership while providing students with moments of joy, creativity, and connection – both inside and outside the classroom.