National Middle School Association
Announces Hiring of New Executive Director

National Middle School Association is pleased to announce the hiring of Betty Edwards as its new executive director. Edwards begins work with NMSA on August 1, 2007, following the retirement of the association's current executive director, Sue Swaim.

Edwards—currently the assistant vice president for testing and professional development for Measured Progress, a non-profit provider of customized assessment and professional development to improve student learning—brings a wealth of knowledge to NMSA. She has served as a middle level teacher, assistant principal, district curriculum director, Kentucky state department director of curriculum and assessment, and associate director of a national, non-profit organization. She is a past president of both National Middle School Association and the Kentucky Middle School Association.

Upon accepting NMSA's executive director position, Dr. Edwards stated: "I am very excited to have an opportunity to be part of NMSA's growth and its future. I look forward to building upon NMSA's past successes and to achieving its goals of extending its status as the leading advocate for the education and well-being of young adolescents. I also look forward to enhancing the NMSA tradition of providing high quality programs, resources, and services to support the diverse needs of NMSA's members and affiliate organizations."

Between now and August, Edwards will have various opportunities to meet with NMSA Board members, professional staff, and affiliate leaders to become familiar with the current work of the association as well as consider future needs and opportunities. According to Edwards, "Initially my top priority will be to make the leadership transition from Sue Swaim to me a positive one, and to further the work of National Middle School Association. I value NMSA's long term commitment and high quality work in professional development, publications, research, and teacher and principal preparation, and am eager to be a part of moving this work forward. Likewise, I'm excited about NMSA's advocacy work, and its outreach work through relationship-building. Collectively, these things point to a bright future for National Middle School Association as the leading organization advocating for and advancing middle level education in support of young adolescents."

NMSA is the nation's largest professional association focusing specifically on the education of young adolescents (10- to 15-year-olds). Its 180,000 individual and institutional members include teachers, principals, school administrators, professors, parents, and others dealing with this age group.