The Education Service Center Region 19 would like to invite you to be a part of the Third Annual Middle School Conference Bridges to Success- ONLINE. This unique conference will focus on the latest topics and issues related to middle school education (grades 5-9) and adolescent learners.  It is an opportunity to engage in shared learning and discussion that will help support our efforts in providing an excellent learning environment for our adolescent students. The conference invites all the great minds in administration, teaching, and instructional facilitation to attend this exciting learning and networking opportunity.

Dear Participants,

We want to start by thanking you for your enthusiasm and dedication to our area students. After listening to the needs of our community and deliberation with our conference committee, we have made the difficult choice to move the conference to Saturday, February 27, 2021.  Unfortunately, we are seeing a rise in Covid cases as well as the uncertainty that accompanies these numbers.  We want to make this experience as engaging as possible for you, but we know this would be difficult considering so many different factors affecting your school day.  As a registered participant, no further action is required on your part.  We really hope you are able to join us at this one of a kind conference that highlights the amazing work being conducted by our Marvelous Super Teachers but understands this may not be possible. If you are not able to attend and require a refund, please contact Arlene Arana at aarana@esc19.net for information on how to process the request.  Please contact us if you need any further information.  Again, we thank you, and hope to see you in February!

Thank you,

The Middle School Conference Team

"The middle grades may be the most important years in a child’s education, the 'most fertile years,' according to Balfanz. It is during this time that students ask and answer for themselves, 'Is schooling for me?'"

"...educators need to be much more intentional about how we serve our early adolescents, paying attention to what he described as the ABCs:  chronic absenteeism, behavioral problems, and low course grades in middle school. According to his June 2009 middle school policy and practice brief, the earlier students develop off-track indicators, the lower their graduation odds appear to be."

-Recognizing Education’s Middle School Syndrome (https://blog.ed.gov/2011/05/recognizing-education%E2%80%99s-middle-school-syndrome/)

"'If you are the warm, nurturing, motherly, grandmotherly type, you are made for early childhood education. If you love math or science or English, then you are the high school type. If you love bungee jumping, then you are the middle school type.' 

-The Middle School Mess (https://www.educationnext.org/the-middle-school-mess/)

"Middle grades are the last best chance to identify students at risk of academic failure and get them back on track in time to succeed in high school. "

"Success in key subjects in the middle grades is a strong predictor of success in high school and beyond. "

-Gaining Grounds in the Middle Grades (https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED508674.pdf)