The first half of the 2006-2007 school year has been very exciting.  The region board met five times and has made terrific progress on several initiatives.  In addition, many schools, teachers, and administrators have shown a new interest in being involved in PMSA. 

           November 14 and 15, 2006 and January 25, 2007 were the dates of three Principals’ Breakfasts.  The events were held at the Administration Building -West Chester Area School District, Keith Valley Middle School – Hatboro-Horsham Middle School, and Members First Federal Credit Union Administration Building - Mechanicsburg.  Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc, Members 1^st Federal Credit Union, and the Capital Area Intermediate Unit were partners with PMSA Eastern Region in sponsoring the breakfast meetings.  The breakfasts were well attended, provided a forum for good interaction on several hot topics, showcased PMSA member benefits and programs, and were a springboard to future meetings. 

           Professional development continues to be a focus area for PMSA.  An Eastern Region Professional Development Institute is being planned for October 2007.  More details will be available soon.  Speaking of professional development, this is a great time to register for the Lehigh University Middle Level

Conference.  Rick Wormeli will present the keynote address and participants will have the opportunity to select up to 4 additional sessions on topics of interest.  Information and materials for both events are available on the website home page under Regional Conferences.

           Middle level leaders from Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Bucks Counties have been meeting to plan for the fifth and newest region of PMSA.  The Eastern Region Board is fully supporting the work of these leaders and the progress they have made.  The Southeast Region, as they will be known, is planning on presenting their proposal for being accepted as a new region to the PMSA Executive Board in January 2008.  If you are interested in learning more about this new region or would like to be actively involved in the planning, contact Dr. Charles Cognato, Assistant Principal at Stetson Middle School – West Chester Area School District.

           Anyone interested in being involved in the exciting work of Pennsylvania Middle School Association may want to attend the upcoming Eastern Region Board meeting on May 29, 2007.  For more information, contact me at pmeck@verizon.net or any member of the Eastern Region Board.  Don’t forget check the PMSA website for ongoing updates.

          

     Paul Meck— President

           The Northwest Region Board members have focused their time and energy creating a professional development opportunity for the middle level teachers, counselors, and administrators.  On May 1, 2007 we held our annual spring conference at Walnut Creek Middle School in Fairview, PA.  The keynote address was given by Elaine Surma.  Ms. Surma works for the State Department’s office of the Attorney General and has dedicated herself to educating teachers, health care professionals and parents about peer pressure and the dangerous choices our

adolescents are making.

           Following the keynote conference attendees had the opportunity to select from various breakout sessions including diversity, differentiation, advisory, reading strategies, and Response to Intervention (RtI).  The evening concluded with dinner and annual general membership meeting.

           Looking to the Future, next fall the NW region will host Rick Wormeli who will speak about differentiation in the middle level classroom.

Karen Jez— President