The beginning of every school year brings with it a mix of excitement, hopeful anticipation, and anxious wonder fueled in part by reflection on previous years.  What will the new year bring? What dreams will be realized?  What hopes will be fulfilled?  What challenges will we face as we journey through this year?  The Eastern Region Board launched our 2007- 2008 voyage on Saturday September 22 with the same blend of emotion.  Reflecting of the work of the pervious year, members present and guests designed goals to build on our successes.  Three primary foci this year are: continuing to plan a successful division of the Eastern Region into the Southeast and East, professional development, broadening our membership to all geographic areas within the eastern region, and increasing advocacy for middle level education.

     We have two Professional

Development Institutes (PDI) planned for October. One on October 5, 2007 at Blue Ridge Middle School, hosted by Principal Matthew Nebzydoski, will center on best instructional practices.  A second PDI slated for October 10, hosted by Principal Jon Ross at Drexel Hill Middle School, will focus on safe schools.   Please join us for these professional development activities. You can find more information about these events on pmsaweb.org.  As we venture through this year, we will also post information about the principals breakfasts we are planning, so bookmark our web address for easy access.

     Our next Eastern Region Board meeting will be October 10 at Drexel Hill Middle School directly following our PDI at 4:00. We invite you to attend and become an active member and partner in promoting best practices for middle level education.

 

Respectfully Submitted

Kathy A. Johnson

The Western Region is off to a great start. We've had our first meeting Sept. 26th with an attendance of thirty people. We are planning for our region conference in January at Blackhawk Middle School.

 

Our goals for this year are to increase membership, bringing in new members. We are also promoting MOYA and attending the State Conference. JP Prager and I will be attending the National Conference along with other region members in November.

 

Kathy Harrington, President