OUR STAFF
Executive Director
In August 2018, after 41 years in education, Jeff Rodman was named the 6th Executive Director of the New England League of Middle Schools, a non-profit that provides professional development opportunities for middle school educators throughout the region. Forty of those 41 years were spent in the middle level. Most recently, he was the principal of the Middle School of the Kennebunks in Kennebunk, Maine. It was a position that he held for 10 years. He also served as a middle school principal in Falmouth, Maine and Wells Junior High School. Prior to delving into administration, Jeff taught math and coached a variety of sports at Old Rochester Regional Junior High School in Mattapoisett, MA. Jeff earned his undergraduate degree from Dakota State University in Madison, SD and his master's degree from Harvard.
From 2005 – 2018, Jeff served on the Maine Association for Middle Level Education (MAMLE) Board of Directors and was president of the organization from 2012 - 2016. Additionally, Jeff had been active in the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE). He was chair of AMLE’s Affiliate Advisory Committee, a member of the Election Committee, and for two years he served on AMLE’s conference session Selection Committee. Jeff lives in Kittery, Maine with his wife, Ellen, who, until her retirement, was a distinguished middle school Health Education teacher.
Finance Director
Marita began her career in finance as the treasury stock manager at large publicly traded Massachusetts bio-tech firm. Following the birth of her children, Marita reentered the workforce as the business manager of her local parish. She then further expanded her professional experience working as the finance manager of several not-for-profit entities and small businesses.
She has co-chaired her children’s school PTO fundraising committee and served as treasurer on private school boards.
Assistant Executive Director
Dr. Timothy Allen started his career as a teacher in Boston, the Bronx, and Springfield, Massachusetts. He spent 5 years as an assistant principal in Springfield, including one year as a member of the Level Four turnaround team at Kennedy Middle School. He then spent two years as the first principal of South End Middle School in Springfield, followed by ten years as the principal of Birchland Park Middle School in East Longmeadow. He is currently an associate professor in the School of Education at American International College.
Dr. Allen is the Assistant Executive Director of the New England League of Middle Schools (NELMS) and the host of the Teachers’ Cup of Coffee podcast. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Springfield Ballers non-profit youth organization, is a founder and board member of 16 Lyrics; a non-profit focused on promoting equity and anti-racism in schools, and delivers free CPR training in schools and the community through TimmyStrongHealth. He earned his Ed.D. from American International College, C.A.G.S. from UMass Amherst, M.A. from Columbia University Teachers College, and B.A. from Wheaton College in Massachusetts.
Office Manager/Events Coordinator
Karin worked at a bank for 11 years as a teller, head teller, and customer service agent, and then she moved to work for the Town of Georgetown in the finance department, and then the Town of Ipswich in their school district office. During her time in Ipswich, her son started in middle school. It was at that time that Karin realized the importance of being more available for her son, so she began looking for a job where she could work “mother’s hours” to be more available for her son before and after school. In September 2005, that new position was found at the New England League of Middle Schools, where Karin was first hired as their Professional Services Team Assistant, working with former Assistant Executive Director, Lyn Ward Healy.