National Association of Professors of Middle Level Education

Latest News

In Memoriam - Gordon F. Vars, by Tracy Smith

Outstanding Middle Grades Program
The John H. Lounsbury School of Education at Georgia College and State University was recognized for its outstanding Middle Grades Program (pdf)

New Issue of CIMLE Journal - Spring 2012

Call for Proposals and Symposium Information (pdf)
Middle Level Education Symposium - Memphis, TN May 14-16, 2012

NAPOMLE AWARDS COMMITTEE (pdf)

Newsletters

December Newsletter (pdf)

November 2011 (pdf)

October 2011 (pdf)

September 2011 (pdf)

August 2011 (pdf)

July 2011 (pdf)

June 2011 (pdf)

May 2011 (pdf)

April 2011 (pdf)

NaPOMLE Outstanding Professors of Middle level Education Recipients 2011

Dr. Kim Ligon, middle level professor at Kennesaw State University was recognized as the 2011 recipient of the Outstanding Professor of Middle Level Education from NaPOMLE. Dr. Ligon has worked tirelessly for the past six years to improve teacher education on her campus. She is passionate about building constructive relationships with students, colleagues, and site coordinators in partnership schools. She is best known for her high level of advocacy for young adolescents. To that end, she developed a unique yearlong internship program at Kennesaw that resulted in a new esteemed perception of her middle grades teacher candidates. Dr. Ligon also developed a unique economic strategy for sustaining this pilot program in a time when funding was extremely limited. Teacher leadership, young adolescent development, responsive curriculum and instruction, and authentic field experiences are the hallmark of Kim’s outstanding service to the profession. Her passion for bringing positive change to education is admired by all who know her.

Dr. Kimberly Ruebel, middle level professor at the University of Texas-Arlington was recognized as the 2011 recipient of the Outstanding Professor of Middle Level Education from NaPOMLE Kim Reubel . Dr. Ruebel was nominated for this award because of her advocacy for middle level education and her collegiality in working with students, faculty, and public school partners. She is an example of what it means to be a good team member, to be a visionary, to be an advocate, to work tirelessly, and to share one's passion for young adolescents. Her vision for and impact on the UT-A middle level program for the past five years has been outstanding. Dr. Ruebel’s work with Teacher Induction Website, an on-line professional development website, is one of the hallmarks of her recent service to local middle level teachers. Another highly regarded program that she developed at UT-A is the two year apprentice based program for teacher candidates. Kim worked hard to develop and implement this program because she believed it to be ideal for mid-level teacher candidates. For those who know and work with her, it is clear that her unselfish leadership has improved the lives of university students as well as her surrounding professional community. Ultimately, she impacts the lives of young adolescents by sending them truly well trained, talented teachers.

Request for review and input

The most recent draft of the AMLE (former NMSA) professional standards. The document is attached and information needs to be shared with Ken McEwin, mcewinck@appstate.edu , by October 31, 2011.

Second Draft of AMLE Standards (PDF)

Paul George's introductory speach Middle Level Symposium (pdf)

On May 18-20, 2011, over 100 of America’s best and most experienced minds in middle level education gathered in Milledgeville, Georgia for the special Southeastern Regional Professors of Middle Level Education (POMLE) Symposium, “Celebrating the Legacy of the Middle School and Envisioning Its Future.” This landmark meeting was held on the campus of Georgia College where POMLE was born in 1987. Included in this extraordinary collection of intellectual prowess were most of the pioneer leaders whose works comprised the volume, The Legacy of the Middle School: In Their Own Words, which was released at the symposium.

The American Middle School Movement: Taking The Long View (pdf) Paul S. George

In Memoriam

NaMOPLE morns the loss of a bright and shining star, Dr. Jennifer Lee Wilson, 36.

Jennifer was a highly regarded NaMOPLE colleague, and professor in The University of South Carolina's (USC) College of Education Department of Instruction and Teacher Education. She was known for her work with beginning teachers and students in Columbia and around the world. A globe-trotting, energetic education professor, she was respected by colleagues and loved by students. She had worked with children and teachers worldwide, in places like Norway , Tanzania and China , as well as at Hand Middle School in Columbia . She led writers' camps for young people.

Joining USC in 2005, she won many grants, including the prestigious Fulbright scholarship. Her latest award was in 2010 — a USC distinguished early career teaching award, based in part on peer reviews and student feedback. In 2011, Jennifer was promoted with tenure.

USC Provost Michael Amiridis noted, “She was one of these very gifted individuals who brightened the room with her contagious smile, enthusiasm and positive and exciting statements, and had passion and pride in the academic world and vision. "

Interview with Will Waidleich, AMLE (11:24) (Download as MP3)

New Digital Book - Keeping Middle Schools Successful (2011)
Edited by Dr. Betty Dore, Radford University

Call for Manuscripts

Special Themed Issue: Teacher Preparation for Young Adolescents for the Middle Grades Research Journal. The rich and challenging conversation that occurred at the Symposium around middle level teacher preparation encouraged us to extend our original Submission Deadline to September 1, 2011. We encourage you to submit an article that emanates from your own research experience or a collaborative one that comes from the collective experience of the Symposium.

Download call for manuscripts (doc)

Press Release: High Performing Middle Grades Schools Share Strategies with Congress

Message from the President

Letter from Our President (March 2011)

Letter from Our President (February 2011)

Letter from Our President (January 2011)

Letter from Our President (November 2010 )

NaPOMLE sponsors a session at NMSA for professors

NaPOMLE sponsors a session at NMSA for professors to share their research, their best practices, their programs in a round table format. Names, universities and titles will be included in the NMSA program. If you would like to submit a round table topic and/or if you would like to provide a poster session, we would love to include you in the program. The deadline to apply is June 15. You will find the application at the following link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q8KLNJB

Housing information is now available for the NMSA conference in November. The Marriott (connected to the Convention Center) is where we will be stationed. Consider staying there too.

In the June newsletter I will be sharing terms that are expiring as well as nomination procedures for the fall. If you are interested in running for a region or an office, we will provide you with more information.

Call for Manuscripts, CIMLE - the premiere journal of the National Association of Professors of Middle Level Education

FOR SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Submit by June 1st for the October 2011 issue!

4th Southeast Regional Middle Level Professors Symposium

Celebrating the Legacy of the Middle School and Envisioning Its Future
A Landmark Symposium with a Special Focus on Middle Level Teacher Preparation

Sponsored by Southeast Regional Professors of Middle Level Education (SEPoMLE), NaPOMLE, and Georgia College & State University, the symposium will be held on May 18-20, 2011 on the Georgia College campus in Milledgeville, the birthplace of PoMLE.

This historic meeting will bring together well over 100 middle level education leaders, including almost all of the participants in the Middle Level Education Legacy project (confirmed to date--John Arnold, Al Arth, Sherrel Bergmann, Mary Compton, Tom Dickinson, Nancy Doda, Tom Erb, Paul George, Howard Johnston, John Lounsbury, Ken McEwin, Chris Stevenson, John Swaim, and Sue Swaim). The volume, The Legacy of Middle School Leaders: In Their Own Words, that contains the interview transcriptions and other materials of these early leaders, will be unveiled at the symposium.

2010 NAPOMLE Awards (PDF)