1. Launching a Successful Middle Grade
Partnership Network
Cindy Freeman, Council President
Jeff Harris, ACSA Board Member
Derrick Lawson, ACSA MGPN Liaison
November 7, 2013

2. Expected Outcomes
You will:
 learn about the ACSA Middle Grade Partnership
Network (ACSA MGPN) - a great PLC for middle grades
administrators.
 learn how to launch and maintain an active Partnership
that pools resources to provide for wonderful
presenters, best practices, networking opportunities,
technology updates, school site visits and more!
 receive an ACSA MGPN toolkit which contains resource
tools to help you launch and grow a Partnership
network.

3. A Little Bit of History
…after Caught in the Middle (late 1980’s), middle
grades principals met and formulated the first
Partnerships…
…informal breakfast and lunch meetings to provide
mutual support…
…became CMGPN supported by CDE…
…then came Taking Center Stage, TCS Act II…
…the result…Middle Grades Consortium

4. Why is the
ACSA Middle Grades
Education Council
now
shepherding this effort?

5. ACSA Strategy IV:
We will build and maintain vibrant, purposeful
networks of educational communities.

“Cutting edge” information will be provided to ACSA
members based on self-identified areas of interest

Networks are created between ACSA and both
traditional and non-traditional groups

Members connect virtually with other
members

6. Purpose of ACSA MGPN

A collaborative, administrator-to-administrator and
school-to-school Network

Sponsored by the ACSA Middle Grade Council

Local Network meets during the year to support,
visit, mentor, and assist one another

Focus is specific to middle grades
education

7. Benefits of ACSA MGPN Participation
1. Provides up-to-date information on CDE activities and initiatives,
state and federal mandates, and pending legislation.
2. Gives access to current middle level research, special state or
federal projects, grants or special funding opportunities.
3. Enables participants to provide input on state middle grades
policy development.
4. Allows you to visit model middle schools in your region to see
best practices.
5. Provides a network of people from/with whom to share resources,
ask questions, or solicit ideas.
6. Provides a forum to voice and solicit input on middle grades
issues, challenges and solutions.
7. Can be part of a pool of resources to provide relevant middlelevel professional learning and development.

8. Region P’s MGPN Story

9. How do I start a Partnership Network?
 Start small (i.e. breakfast group).
 Invite colleagues you already know or are
acquainted with; have them bring a colleague.
 Send out personal e-mail invitations.
 Call middle grades principals in your area.
 Join up with an existing group of middle grades
principals.

10. How do I build a solid constituency?
 Cultivate a Web presence
 Send letters and brochures to area Superintendents,
Assistant Superintendents and principals
 Cultivate County contacts
 Connect with local ACSA Middle Grades Education
Council Representative
 Connect with local CLMS contacts

11. Various Models Across the State
 Region P
 Meets 5 times bi-monthly, half and full day mtgs
 Kick-off weekend meeting
 $500 annual membership
 San Diego
 Breakfast meetings
 Professional development
 Rural Northern California group
 Saturday meetings each quarter

12. Format of Region P Meetings
 Book Club
 Partner Association reports and updates
 Speakers
 Professional Development Presenters
 Site Visits
 Best Practice Showcases
 Tech Links
 Connection and Mutual Support time

13. Agendas

14. Growing a Middle Grade Partnership
Kick-Off Meeting

A weekend meeting off-site with a built-in social
networking time with a meal or activity

Team building activity (modeled for site use)

Set budget, topics, books, speakers for year

Select host sites for year

Establish contact listing and best practices to share
or site leadership team needs

15. Book Clubs
 Purchase 4 books annually
 Books reflect the chosen topics of professional
development
 Study guide/PowerPoint included
 Quick reads key
 Use a “Novel in an Hour” Strategy
 Pre-read and discuss with pre-determined
guided questions form

16. Speakers
 Recognized principals
 District leaders across the region
 County Office curriculum specialists and facilitators
 University professors publishing a book
 Authors and presenters from conferences who are
in the area at key times
 State and Federal representatives
 Specialized vendor representatives
 Research Personnel

17. School Site Visits
 Host Sites showcase unique, special, or highly
effective programs/practices
ie: No Zero Zone, AVID, Watch DOGS
 Schools to Watch or showcase sites based on
requests for team visits
 Distinguished Schools with signature
practices

18. Growing a Middle Grade Partnership
Potential Formats For Meetings
 Informal breakfast or lunch meetings
 Formal agendized half or whole day meetings
 On-line Webinar, Adobe Connect, Skype, or blog forums
Calendar: Region P Example





We meet 5 times bimonthly
Meet from 8:30 to noon and then a group lunch
Twice we meet full day
Initial meeting is a Friday/Saturday
Everyone brings their calendars and we map it out

19. Gathering Our Info Through Surveys:




Topic selection
Book selection
Practices to showcase
Requests for team visits
Dues: Determine Your MGPN Fee
Region P Example: $500 per year to cover costs of - Books, Speakers, Continental Breakfast and group lunch for meetings
- Kick-off weekend rooms and conference location
- Postage and printing of materials for meetings

20. Roles and Responsibilities
Example: Region P Officers
 President: Coordinates speakers and agenda
 Vice President: Helps coordinate survey info
 Secretary: Takes minutes of meetings,
maintains directory
 Treasurer: Monitors and updates dues & budget
 Tech Master: Facebook, Twitter, Tech links

21. Resources to Help You

ACSA MGPN Toolkit


TCII website http://pubs.cde.ca.gov/tcsii/index.aspx
CLMS and Schools To Watch personnel
www.clms.net, www.clms.net/stw
ACSA Middle Grades Council Reps
www.acsa.org/middlegrades



County liaisons
State symposia contacts

22. Questions and
Next Steps

23. Testimonials
I am a new member who is already seeing the benefits of the
Region P Partnership. Region P provided a wonderful
presentation through Linda Solis on "Rebooting School
Culture." The timing was perfect. Region P provides valuable
networking opportunities with other principals who are outside
my own school district.
~ Jim Owen, Principal
March Middle School
Val Verde USD

24. Testimonials
I came to the middle school principalship with no secondary
experience. Site visitations to Partnership schools, collaborative
meetings with my counterparts from other districts, and the
wide range of ideas I've gathered from our meetings have been
invaluable to me. Seeing great programs and strategies during
our meetings has allowed me to take those back to
my site and make my school a better learning
environment.
~ James Judziewicz (U-Jay-Vitch), Principal
Elsinore Middle School
Lake Elsinore USD

25. Testimonials
I've been associated with Region P for about 14 years as an
administrator. Out of all the conferences, inservices and
trainings I have attended, being a member of Region P
Partnerships has been the most valuable. I find being able to
collegially be a member of a group that shares anything and
everything makes my job easier... AND I feel supported. Can't
imagine my administrative life without the support of my Region
P colleagues.
~ Karen Hayes, Principal
Margarita Middle School
Temecula Valley USD

26. Contact Us
For more information regarding the ACSA
MGPN, please contact:
 Cindy Freeman, Council President
cifreeman@pylusd.org
 Charles “Derrick Lawson, MGPN Liaison
Charles.Lawson@dsusd.us
 Mary Gomes, Council Executive
mgomes@acsa.org

27. Thank you
for the opportunity
to be of service
to you!