A dynamic team of educators from Ecker Hill Middle School recently represented our district at the Annual Conference for the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE), held in Nashville, Tennessee, from November 6-9, 2024. AMLE is the only international organization dedicated exclusively to middle school educators, with a community of over 35,000 members focused on reaching every student, growing professionally, and building exceptional middle schools.

The AMLE Annual Conference is the largest event for middle school educators, attracting participants from across the globe to exchange best practices, learn from cutting-edge research, and collaborate on strategies tailored for young adolescents. This year, Ecker Hill’s team contributed significantly to the program:

• Jessica Sheetz presented on “A Growing and Successful PBIS Program,” sharing Ecker Hill’s journey with Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Her session highlighted effective strategies for fostering a positive school culture, reducing behavioral issues, and supporting student well-being through clear, consistent expectations.

• Lara Rude and Liz Thompson led a session titled “One Book One School,” focusing on their school-wide literacy initiative designed to create a shared reading experience. They discussed the program’s impact on student engagement, community building, and the development of a strong culture of literacy throughout the school.

• Liz Thompson led Rebranding - One School's Journey. This session highlights a school’s transformative journey in rebranding its image and culture by focusing on AMLE’s core values: Responsiveness, Challenge, empowerment, equality, and Engagement. Attendees will explore practical changes to schedules, team organization, advisory programs, intervention time, and PBIS, showcasing how these adjustments have fostered a thriving environment tailored to today’s middle-level learners.

Assistant Principal Missy Tschabrum also attended the conference, supporting the presenters and participating in various sessions to gather new insights and strategies to bring back to Ecker Hill.

Reflecting on the experience, Lara Rude shared: "We’re all excited to have this opportunity and gain more insights on how to make Ecker Hill an even better middle school."

Ecker Hill’s connection to AMLE dates back to 1998, when then-principal Randy Olsen took the entire faculty to the conference in Denver. This formative experience helped lay the groundwork for Ecker Hill’s focus on middle-level education, a tradition that continues to guide the school’s practices today.

Much gratitude to this Ecker Hill team for their leadership and dedication to continuous growth, showcasing our district on a national stage and bringing back innovative ideas to support student success.