Press Release

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April Tibbles, 1-614-895-4730

April 1, 2009

NMSA Announces Next Editor of Middle School Journal

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COLUMBUS (OH)—National Middle School Association (NMSA), the nation's largest organization focused solely on middle level education, welcomes David C. Virtue as the next editor of Middle School Journal. David succeeds Thomas O. Erb who is retiring after 14 years of service.

David Virtue, once a middle school social studies teacher, is currently assistant professor of middle level education and social studies in the Department of Instruction and Teacher Education at the University of South Carolina, Columbia. He earned his master's and doctoral degrees in social science education from the University of Georgia and his bachelor's degree in anthropology and sociology from Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania.

David has been a strong supporter of middle level reform initiatives in South Carolina. He has worked closely with the South Carolina Department of Education and the South Carolina Middle School Association to ensure the implementation of middle school certification policy and to address the shortage of certified, highly-qualified middle level teachers in the state. He has also served on the South Carolina Middle Level Teacher Education Initiative planning committee and the South Carolina Schools to Watch Initiative, and he is a former president of the South Carolina Professors of Middle Level Education organization.

David has served as editor of the South Carolina Middle School Journal, and he has reviewed manuscripts for national publications such as Research in Middle Level Education Online, Anthropology and Education Quarterly, and Comparative Education. He has authored a wealth of articles and book chapters related to middle level curriculum and instruction, middle level teacher education and certification, social studies instruction, and young adolescent immigrant students. His most recent publication is the introductory chapter to the book, An International Look at Educating Young Adolescents, a volume in the Handbook of Research in Middle Level Education series.

David brings to the position enthusiasm for NMSA and middle level education and a deep commitment to building on the tradition of publishing excellence that Middle School Journal has enjoyed for more than 40 years. "I am honored to have the opportunity to serve NMSA in this capacity," David writes, "and I will work to ensure that the journal continues to serve its readers as a leading source of information, ideas, and scholarly discussion of issues in middle level education."

David and his wife Shannon reside in Columbia, South Carolina with their son, James Ryan, and their dogs, Maggie and Pup.

About National Middle School Association:
National Middle School Association (NMSA) is the largest professional organization serving educators and parents who work with 10- to 15 year-olds. NMSA's membership represents 180,000 teachers, principals, school administrators, parents, and others who work with this age group.