On Jan. 10, St. Joseph’s University, New York hosted more than 200 middle school educators for the annual New York State Middle School Association (NYSMSA) Long Island regional conference. Sponsored by the Suffolk and Nassau Principal Associations, BOCES and the NYS Middle Level Association, this year’s conference was attended by teachers and administrators from Long Island, New York City and upstate New York.
After SJNY President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D. delivered opening remarks, Dr. Laurie Barron, superintendent of the Evergreen School District in Montana and co-author of “The Successful Middle School: A Place to Belong & Become,” delivered the keynote address.
Dr. Barron detailed her almost three-decades long career in education and offered insights on how to increase effectiveness when teaching at the middle school level. Believing in children’s perceptions, honoring their voices and celebrating what students do right were just a few tidbits Barron offered.
Author and Superintendent Dr. Laurie Barron offered insights to an audience of over 200 educators during her keynote presentation.
“It is really important to focus on young adolescent needs rather than young adolescent achievements,” Barron said. “When we make children feel understood and heard and valued, it makes it easier to build a community where they can then succeed.”
Attendees spent the day engaging in workshops on best practices and networking.
The workshop sessions, which were taught by educators from local school districts, centered on creating culture, building community, cultural identity and belonging in the classroom and collaborative leadership among others.
SJNY associate professor of child study, Dr. Shawn Robertson, Ph.D., served as conference co-chair.
The University has partnered with NYSMSA for the past decade.
“We are very grateful for our partnership with St. Joseph’s University,” said Oceanside Middle School Principal Dr. Allison Glickman-Rogers. “The University’s continued support is symbolic of their commitment to educators and being the best they can be for their students.”
