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Leading from the Middle: Four Things Middle School Leaders Want Parents to Know

Research is clear that family engagement in middle school is essential for student success. Yet it sometimes feels like schools and families are more divided than ever. Middle school leaders must build stronger partnerships that help both constituencies achieve their shared goal: success for the whole student. In celebration of Middle Level Education Month #MLEM,

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Leading from the Middle: The Unique Skillset of the Middle School Leader

Strong leadership is essential to a successful middle school. This statement may seem obvious, but a leader who possesses the unique skillset to lead from the middle can be easy to take for granted. In fact, decades of research tell us that middle grades leadership is so essential that it’s included as the third pillar

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Leading from the Middle: Finding Your Place and Your People in the Middle Grades

In a recent episode of the Middle School Walk & Talk Podcast, Kevin Armstrong, middle school principal and incoming President of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), recounted a story from his career as a middle grades leader. After serving as a middle school assistant principal for four years, he received a call

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Middle School Gets a Bad Rap. It’s Time to Flip the Script.

“Bless your heart.” “I’m so sorry!” “Why?” If you’re a middle grades educator, it’s likely you’ve heard one of these reactions when you tell someone your profession. It’s not uncommon for people to recount negative memories from their own time as a middle schooler or bemoan, “kids these days.” Even though 10–15-year-olds are experiencing the

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Social Studies Simulations – Do They Still Have a Place in Middle School?

In a recent issue of Middle School Journal, researchers Karen Burgard, Michael Boucher, and Tina Ellsworth reexamined the classroom simulation. Do they do more harm than good? AMLE CEO Stephanie Simpson sat down with the authors to learn more about the study and the key implications for educators. This interview has been edited for space

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10 AI Time-Saving Teaching Hacks

In AMLE’s 2023 Membership Survey, teacher leaders were asked, “What factors, if any, prevent you from becoming a more effective teacher leader?” The number one response was, unsurprisingly, “time.” More than ever, teachers today feel pressed for time. From planning and executing high-quality lessons for diverse learners, to managing multiple meetings with different constituents, our

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AMLE Celebrates Inaugural Schools of Distinction

AMLE recognized its inaugural class of Schools of Distinction earlier this month, in conjunction with the organization’s 49th Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. The twelve schools were selected for their fervent commitment to implementing the essential attributes and characteristics of successful middle grades schools. In addition to being celebrated during a special awards ceremony, each

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Reimagining School – What should it look like and who is it for?

Cornelius Minor and Kass Minor help #AMLE22 attendees find their bottom lines as educators Cornelius and Kass Minor believe that kids don’t just learn in school. They become. It’s an attitude reflective of what we know about middle grades best practice, making them the perfect keynoters for #AMLE22 and our return to in-person conference. We

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Kindness is harder than it looks.

Houston Kraft reminds #AMLE22 attendees that connection doesn’t happen by accident. Houston Kraft, author and co-founder of CharacterStrong, took the main stage at #AMLE22 yesterday for his keynote address on Deep Kindness. From the outset, he made clear that he had a mission for those in attendance. “If we want more kindness on our campus,

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