Conference Program
The AMLE Annual Conference is the world’s largest gathering of middle grades educators and celebrates the unique nature of young adolescents and the dedicated educators who support their social-emotional and academic growth. With a variety of expert featured speakers and more than 300 sessions, you’ll be sure to find your people at AMLE24. Popular conference topics including:
Sessions Across Subject Areas
Social-Emotional Learning
Key Middle Grades Structures
Emerging Research
General Session Keynotes
Dominique Dawes
The Power of the Team
Championship athlete, Dominique Dawes is best known for her role in “The Magnificent Seven,” the 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning American women’s gymnastic team, which to this day is still remembered as the best women’s team in U.S. gymnastics history. Dawes has inspired thousands with her personal story of struggles, setbacks, and successes. Her character is as strong as her presence on the gymnastics floor and today she is using it to lead and motivate youth to make healthy choices and follow their dreams.
Clay Cook
Implementation scientist, speaker, and youth mental health advocate
Clay Cook, PhD is an implementation scientist, psychologist, and former paraprofessional and middle school math teacher. Dr. Cook has been a professor and researcher studying topics such as youth mental health, educator well-being and resilience, social-emotional learning, and implementation of evidence-based practices.
Featured Speakers
AMLE24 Special Strands
AMLE24’s Five Conference Strands highlight trending topics and help attendees navigate the plethora of conference offerings.
Leading from the Middle
Supporting current and aspiring middle grades leaders with the tools and strategies needed to lead and transform a middle grades school.
Early Career Educators
Supporting emerging educators with tools and strategies needed to be an effect classroom teacher.
The Changing Young Adolescent
Understanding and supporting today’s tweens toward personal and academic success
Equity in Middle Grades Education
Supporting educators in building schools that provide socially just learning opportunities and environments for every student.
The Teacher Leader
Supporting teachers who are influencing their schools and students beyond their own classrooms.
AMLE24 Special Strands
AMLE24’s Five Conference Strands highlight trending topics and help attendees navigate the plethora of conference offerings.
Leading from the Middle
Supporting current and aspiring middle grades leaders with the tools and strategies needed to lead and transform a middle grades school.
Early Career Educators
Supporting emerging educators with tools and strategies needed to be an effect classroom teacher.
The Changing Young Adolescents
Understanding and supporting today’s tweens toward personal and academic success
Equity in Middle Grades Education
Supporting educators in building schools that provide socially just learning opportunities and environments for every student.
The Teacher Leader
Supporting teachers who are influencing their schools and students beyond their own classrooms.
Topics
Beyond these special strands, enjoy more than 300 sessions across a broad range of essential middle level education topics. There’s truly something for every member of the middle school team.
Sessions Across Subject Areas
Find effective strategies and emerging trends in middle grades math, science, ELA, social studies, arts, physical education, and exploratory courses.
Social and Emotional Learning
Gain tools to support the social and emotional needs of your students, enhance their executive functioning skills, and expand your understanding of young adolescent development.
Key Middle Grades Structures
Expand your understanding of evidence-based middle grades practices like advisory, interdisciplinary instruction, teaming, project-based learning, responsive scheduling, and more.
Emerging Research
Explore the latest research in middle level education and its implications for educators.
Practitioner Spotlights at AMLE24
Join us as we spotlight some standout middle grades practitioners! These special concurrent sessions are designed to shine a light on creative, effective practices being implemented by educators like you. Here, outstanding practitioners take center stage to share their firsthand experiences, successes, and the innovative strategies.
Greencastle, IN
Jessica is a dedicated school counselor who works collaboratively across the school community to help students set and meet personal and academic goals. She loved finding ways to get students involved in the local community, and will be presenting along with one of her former students.
Catch Jessica’s Spotlight Session:
Just Serve – fostering a philanthropic heart in middle schoolers.
Thursday at 11:15 in Washington B
Ridgefield, CT
Tim is passionate about promoting human rights through education and has been honored with numerous awards for his work, including the Mahatma Gandhi/Martin Luther King Jr. Peach Award from the Connecticut Association of Schools and the Outstanding Educator Award from The Anne Frank Center.
Catch Tim’s Spotlight Session:
ReNew, ReThink & Relmaglne, Reaching Teachers & Influencing Outcomes
Friday at 2:05 in Washington B
Indianapolis, IN
Joe champions innovative approaches like PBL to enhance student learning and outcomes and is a leader in creating inclusive and supportive educational environments that cater to the individual needs of students.
Catch Joe’s Spotlight Session:
It’s not about birdhouses – A true alternative approach for serving the disengaged
Friday at 3:25 in Presidential C
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Vernicca’s passion for emotional wellness has deep roots as the child of parents affected by mental illness. After 15 years as an educational leader and principal, she now supports school leaders in creating work-life balance for themselves while creating a positive culture for their school communities.
Catch Vernicca’s Spotlight Session:
Mindful Leadership: Transform Personal Peace & School Culture
Thursday at 2:05 in Delta Ballroom D