NAMLE is a professional organization that consists of individual, dual (NAMLE and NMSA), as well as institutional members. The governing Board of Trustees sets goals each year to promote a better understanding of the educational needs of the early adolescent. In addition, the association publishes a newsletter;”The Spectrum,” sponsors merit awards for innovative teaching ideas, awards those individuals that have contributed at a high level to the betterment of middle level education in the state, sponsors a yearly symposium, and hosts every third year, a regional conference.
During the school year 1986-87, Marlin Spellmeyer, Ogallala
Middle School Principal, and Dick Meyer, Holdrege Middle School
Principal, were invited to serve on the External Evaluation Team for
the ‘Broken Bow Public School system. These two principals were
assigned to study and report on the Broken Bow Middle School
operation which was under the leadership of Louie Stithem, Principal.
During the evening these three principals sat in Louie Stithem’s
office and began discussing the status of middle schools in the
State of Nebraska. At that time middle schools were not very
plentiful throughout the state and the philosophic concept of middle
school operations was in its early stages, but gaining strength. The
idea of having a statewide middle school organization serving
principals, teachers, parents, and students was suggested. Other
surrounding states had such an organization, so why not Nebraska?
This would provide a “vehicle” for those involved in, and committed
to, the middle school philosophy to network and further promote
the concept. This is where “NAMLE” (as it would eventually be
named) was actually “conceived”.
These three middle school principals wrote letters to principals
currently working in middle and junior high schools in the state
inviting them to a meeting in Kearney, Nebraska, to put forth the
idea and feasibility of formulating such a statewide organization.
Also invited was Rex Reckaway, a Univerisity of Nebraska at
Lincoln Professor who was commonly known as the “guru” of junior
high school operations in the State of Nebraska, and Dean O’Hanlon
also representing UNL. There probably were 35-40 professionals
who attended that first meeting. The general concept received
support and further meetings were scheduled to begin the task of
formulating an organization.
A “groundwork” committee continued to search for by-laws and
constitutions of other organizations for study. Dick Meyer of
Holdrege made contacts with a lawyer in his community who
provided legal information surrounding the formulation of a non-
profit organization. Eventually, all the necessary “ingredients”
were put together. A set of by-laws and a constitution were
adopted, the very first officers were elected from this groundwork
committee, and NAMLE was born.
The Nebraska Association for Middle Level
Education is dedicated to the advocacy of young
adolescents and growth of middle level education.
Pursuant to this mission, the organization is
committed to educating the public concerning the
characteristics and special needs of middle level
students, providing support, research, and
professional networking to middle level educators,
and promoting middle level schools.
