Letter from the President

Janet Vernon

The time is ripe for the academic growth of middle level students and the professional growth of middle level educators. Stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) are available to assist middle level educators in powerful, innovative ways. It is time for all of us to focus on the future and prepare to use the funding in ways that help students succeed.

ARRA provides significant funding to increase student achievement through school improvement and reform (full details at www.recovery.gov). The act places special emphasis on improving teacher effectiveness by offering substantive professional development designed to ensure student success and close the achievement gap between high-performing and low-performing students. At National Middle School Association, a primary focus is, and always has been, offering professional development programs, services, and resources to schools that serve young adolescents.

How do you determine where to start? Whole school assessment is the first step in providing the data and feedback that guide school reform and staff development plans. Powerful school assessments involve soliciting feedback from all stakeholders—teachers, students, administrators, and parents—on the effectiveness of programs and practices. This feedback is the first and most vital step to implementing school reform. Middle schools across the United States and overseas have used the NMSA School Improvement Toolkit as the starting point for improving programs and services.

Another means of effecting school change is by conducting staff and team book studies. This cost-efficient method serves to bring educators together and embed professional development into the daily function of the school. NMSA offers the best resources for middle level educators with examples of top-notch programs and implementation tools you can adapt and use at your school. Find these leading professional books and multimedia resources at www.nmsa.org.

I want to encourage you to academically stretch students, challenge them, spark their creativity, and raise their curiosity. Believe in your students, help them believe in themselves, and develop productive strategies to guarantee student success.

Janet Vernon
NMSA President