The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
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Saline Middle School hosts state conference for educators
Local school district chosen for its 'School to Watch' honor
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 20, 2008
Some 500 middle school teachers and administrators from across the state streamed through the hallways of Saline Middle School for two days last week looking to learn from and inspire one other.
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Saline Middle School hosted the 38th annual conference of the Michigan Association of Middle School Educators March 13 and 14.
"Typically, the conference is something school districts are very proud to host," said Nic Cooper, who as a MAMSE board member for Washtenaw, Livingston and Monroe counties spearheaded bringing the conference to Saline. "Our staff is very proud of it and they've done a tremendous job putting it together."
Cooper, the former principal of Saline Middle School, said one of the reasons the school was chosen to host the conference was its status as one of four schools in the state selected to be a "School to Watch" by the National Forum for the Acceleration of Middle School Grades Reform.
The conference included sessions on strategies for at-risk students and for solving adolescent behavior problems, making learning grammar fun, popular science lessons, techniques for teaching literacy and more.
Cooper led a well-attended session Thursday and Friday mornings titled "Alternatives to Retention."
Among the keynote speakers was Monte Selby, known as "Education's Songwriter." Selby travels the country speaking at education conferences about his career as a middle school teacher and principal. As a critically acclaimed songwriter, he incorporates music into his popular and humorous presentations.
"A kid messing up isn't necessarily an interruption," Selby, sporting cowboy boots and a guitar, told a classroom full of teachers and administrators. "It's a chance to connect with that kid. Every mess-up is an opportunity. Mistakes tend to be teachable moments."
Moving through the halls with the teachers, providing directions and wearing yellow T-shirts that proclaimed "Saline Middle School -- A School to Watch" were some 100 students who volunteered to help with the conference.
Students were features of the conference in other ways, as well. The middle school jazz band greeted conference attendees in the morning and small ensembles played in the halls throughout the day. Student artwork was displayed prominently in a gallery.
"This has been excellent for our teachers," said Patrick Little, principal of Beach Middle School in Chelsea. Fifteen Chelsea teachers attended the conference.
"It's just an excellent conference," Little said. "You have great teachers talking to great teachers."
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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