This article will focus on my ideas and philosophies concerning middle school education. As we begin the year and reflect on future endeavors, I would like to offer, what I feel are practical and sensible approaches to improving the learning environment for young adolescents. These include making sure students have more personal contact and closer relationships with a consistent set of adults in the school by working in communities of learning. It is my hope that the implemented Advisor / Advisee program will help facilitate this need. The program will be offered on a bi-weekly basis. Students will meet with their advisor to interact on issues that deal with middle school life and character education. A second focus must emphasize a core academic program in which adolescents are taught to think critically in subjects that have been integrated across several disciplines. We need to provide students with the opportunity to engage in supervised service-oriented projects and build school-community relations, as well as develop programs that promote temperance, health and appropriate fitness in and out of school. School should engage students intellectually through problem-solving activities and temper programs by having all students gain an understanding of aesthetics as they apply to realm of the arts. In view of the high stakes in teaching young adolescents who will enter adulthood in this century, the most important priority for middle schools should be to enfranchise each member of the educational community to help each and every student develop a sense of individual efficacy, academic integrity, and self-worth. We must take deliberate steps to help adolescents feel that they belong and are wanted in the school community. We must strive to improve the social and academic quality of the middle school environment for all students. If you have noticed, my letterhead has a motto engraved on the paper. It reads Academics, Arts and Athletics Working for Excellence. It is with this motto in mind that I ask our entire educational community to embrace the future of our students and cherish the moments we have been given with each student.

Keep your eye on the future…for we have but one journey through our education.