Executive Director's Note

Betty Edwards

As I look out the windows

of the office, I see the sun glistening off the freshly fallen snow. This light brings me hope in the midst of the difficult times we are facing. The current state of the economy offers considerable challenges for everyone, and schools and districts are not immune. This situation also is not limited to the United States—it's a global issue.

Yet, amidst the financial turmoil, we must all ensure that our sights are set on the continued goal of providing an excellent education for every student. On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States. The theme for his inauguration was "Renewing America's Promise." We all know that the children of each country are the promise for the future of that country and of the world.

As we strive to guarantee that all students have the opportunity to attain their dreams, we must reaffirm our commitment to their education. Research highlights the strong connection between teacher quality and student achievement, so we must continue to provide strong professional learning experiences for middle level educators even during difficult times so that they, in turn, are able to provide the highest quality education possible for all students.

Please know that NMSA is sensitive to the current constraints for schools and school districts, and we want to support you in addressing these professional learning needs. This is the time we need to come together to learn, share, and grow, and there are several ways in which we can accomplish this. The following are a few ideas for providing continuing growth opportunities for teachers and administrators even on a shrinking education budget:

• Secure an institutional eMembership for your school or district. Through one membership, every staff member will have access to electronic copies of Middle School Journal, Middle Ground, Middle E-Connections, The Family Connection, and RMLE Online (research), along with 24/7 online Member Access and discounts for conferences and books. Use the articles in any of these resources as springboards for team or faculty discussions.
• Hold book studies as a team or faculty-wide and explore a variety of topics: leadership, instruction, curriculum, teaming, advisory, or young adolescent development. To help you provide these resources, NMSA offers members (individual or institutional) who order 25 or more copies of any NMSA title an additional 20% off the member price.
• Bring a team to one of our upcoming professional development events—Middle Level Essential Conference, Student Success Institute, or Leadership Institute—and register five for the price of four. Expand that learning by returning to your school and leading others in discussions about the insights, skills, and ideas your team obtained.
• Let us come to you. We will bring facilitators and presenters to your school or district to engage your faculty in customized programs to meet your specific professional development needs.

We all know that times are difficult, but through difficulty we move in new ways, look through a different set of lenses, and grow in different directions. There are avenues for moving forward.

Just as each of you are adjusting the ways you handle your needs—both personally and professionally—NMSA is examining how we do our work. We are tightening our belts and revising our procedures to ensure we meet the ongoing needs of our members. Please be assured that we will continue to provide the high quality services and resources that you have come to expect from NMSA.