Fall 2009

I trust you have adjusted to your fall schedules and if, like me, you are buried in your students' papers and projects. Summer went so quickly and some would even question if we have had a summer; we do, however, have our share of falling leaves to prove it.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to visit with some of you in Las Vegas at the Symposium on Middle Level Teaching held in May. The symposium was attended by almost 100 professors and researchers (good to see even given the shortage of travel funds) and twelve individuals or groups participated in the NaPOMLE Best Practices Roundtable, which was well received. Those of us attending had some time to get caught up and to discuss plans. One topic discussed and needing further conversation was the possibility of holding the next symposium as a pre-conference prior to the NMSA annual to save on cost and to draw in more individuals.

Lack of funding is preventing some of you from attending NMSA's Annual Conference in Indianapolis next month and thus feel we need to have a discussion on how we can use technology more to share and stay in touch with each other. Several of you have indicated you are the only middle level person at your college and relish the opportunity to be part of a discussion with other middle level professors.

For those of attending this year's NMSA Annual I want to remind you our NaPOMLE Roundtable will be held as a concurrent session at 2 on FRI, Nov. 6. Fourteen members or small groups (listed elsewhere on the website) will be presenting and will address a variety of important and interesting topics. This session will be followed by our business meeting beginning at 3:45.

At the business meeting we shall hear officer and committee reports, share plans for the year, and also elect three directors. There are three three-year open board positions, one in the South, North, and West. For those of you who want to become more involved with our group this is an excellent opportunity to help shape our organization as we build it. If you are interested in a position, contact either Betty Dore ( edore@radford.edu ) or me.

Also Susan Stockdale and Nancy Gillis from Kennesaw have asked me to announce our next issue of Crucial Issues is scheduled to be available online in January. They plan to publish a second issue in June so we are seeking articles. If interested, specific requirements are listed elsewhere on this site and remember this is a juried journal.

Jim Wright, also at Kennesaw, is doing a great job trying to keep the web site current. I shall ask several members to work with Jim in establishing some guidelines soon and once we do, we shall encourage members to contribute relevant articles or news.

I know you are really busy – so enough. Looking forward to our time together in Indianapolis and plan to write again after the conference. Back to my papers and, oh yes, I see more leaves falling.

John

John M. Niska, Ph.D.
NaPOMLE President, 2008010
Coordinator of the Middle Level Teachers' Program
Rhode Island College
jniska@ric.edu