Annual Middle Level
Conference & Exhibits
New England League of Middle Schools are leaders in promoting middle level best practices by providing collaborative learning experiences that support students’ academic, social, and emotional growth and success.
42nd Annual Middle Level Conference
March 27 & 28, 2023
#NELMS23
Monday, March 27, 2023
General Session Keynote
Creating a Trust-filled School
Andrew R. Dolloff, Ph.D.
For schools to provide students with the most empowering and engaging learning environments possible, a culture of trust must be fostered in all settings – from the staff room to the classroom. School leader, graduate instructor, and author Andrew Dolloff will share practical ideas for ensuring your school is one in which trust forms the foundation of all relationships, encouraging students and staff to stretch their learning in a safe place that is fun and focused.
Luncheon Session Keynote
Want to See Students Grow: Show Them You Care
Dave F. Brown, Ed.D.
Teachers are responsible for many aspects of young adolescents’ overall growth—from social emotional development to moral maturity to critical thinking to academic gains. All those “tricks” you’ve gleaned from experts and colleagues to improve student learning may be missing the most significant act influencing students’ growth—simply demonstrating care for each student. Dave provides a host of middle level students’ comments laced with personal teaching stories (mostly mistakes) and recent research findings in this talk that demonstrate that caring for students has a greater impact on learning than every other tool in your kit!
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
General Session Keynote
Middle Level Educators Maintaining Optimism
while Thriving in a Crazy World!
Jack Berckemeyer
The education struggle is real. Educators are overwhelmed and educator tired is real. The question becomes how do we maintain that joy and optimism in this crazy world. Jack will offer his insight, humor, and laughter to help your school create an atmosphere of joy and optimism.
Luncheon Session Keynote
Choose Love: A Mother's Story from Tragedy to Triumph
Scarlett Lewis
Social and Emotional Learning is an essential part of the educational experience. Hear a touching story of how SEL could have prevented one of the worst mass murders in US history and how a victim’s mother decided to become part of the solution to the issues we’re facing in schools and society today. Based on a message her young son left on their kitchen chalkboard, “Nurturing Healing Love”, Scarlett began a worldwide movement to teach children how to choose love in every situation or circumstance. You will learn the empowering formula that can lead educators and students to choose love in every situation.