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

Clay Cook

More Featured Speakers to be Announced Soon!

Featured Voices

Jack Berckemeyer
Self-Proclaimed Ruler of Education

Jack is a nationally recognized presenter, author, and humorist known for bringing a new level of engagement to his presentations and a focus on realistic and practical hands-on tools for educators. His latest book, Successful Middle School Teaming, was released in 2022.

Kim Campbell
Daring Dean of Students

Kim currently serves as a Dean of Students while also crossing the country energizing educational professionals as a dynamic presenter. Kim’s second book, If You Can’t Manage Them, You Can’t Teach Them, offers humor and common sense approach to the building blocks of effective teaching and relationship-building.

Persida Himmele
Champion of Student Engagement

Persida is an associate professor at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. She has served as an elementary and middle school teacher, a district administrator, an English language learner program consultant, and a public speaker on issues related to student engagement and teaching in diverse classrooms. She is the co-author of Total Participation Techniques and, most recently, Why are we still doing that?

William Himmele
Champion of Student Engagement

William is an associate professor at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. He has served as an ESL teacher and a speech pathologist, a higher education administrator, an international consultant, and a speaker on issues related to increasing student engagement and teaching English language learners. He is the co-author of Total Participation Techniques and, most recently, Why are we still doing that?

Houston Kraft
Ambassador of Kindness

Houston Kraft is a professional speaker, author, curriculum designer, and kindness advocate who speaks at schools, conferences, and events internationally. He has spoken to over a half a million people at 600 engagements and counting. His first book, Deep Kindness, was published in 2020.

Katie Powell
Boredom Buster

Katie has served as a special education teacher, Title 1 teacher, instructional coach, and classroom teacher. Her focus on providing interventions for struggling students led to the development of strategies that leverage curiosity and fun to engage students while driving learning deeper, compiled in her first book, Boredom Busters. Her latest book, Frustration Busters, was released in 2021.

Jennifer Rose
AMLE Director for Professional Development

Jennifer is a veteran leader with decades of experience implementing the middle school model in both the private and public school settings. She also specializes in facilitating DEI professional development and in helping schools effectively use instructional technology to advance student achievement.

Anitra Warrior
Passionate Mental Health Advocate

Anitra is a psychologist specializing in working with children with anxiety, depression, ADHD, Autism, and those who have experienced traumatic events, helping educators understand how these factors can impact daily interactions for kids at school and home. She is a fierce advocate for culturally competent mental health care, and especially ending disparities for American Indians and rural populations.

Rick Wormeli
Education Avenger

One of the first Nationally Board Certified teachers in America, Rick brings innovation, energy, validity and high standards to both his presentations and his instructional practice, which include 39 years teaching and coaching teachers and principals. He is the author of the best-selling book Fair Isn’t Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom (Second Edition), as well as several other titles.

Practitioner Spotlights

In honor of AMLE’s 50th anniversary and our theme of A Rich History, A Bright Future, attendees are invited to hear from practitioners who are pushing their middle grades classrooms and schools forward into the next 50 years.

Janine Campbell
Janine Campbell
Driving Learning with Design Thinking

Janine is a visual arts teacher who believes art is all around us. She teaches art hand-in-hand with technology, encouraging kids to think like artists while developing the skills needed to achieve their goals.

Steven Hauk
101 Ways to Improve School Culture

Steven is a principal who is passionate about finding ways for students to be part of something special at school, offering rapid-fire ways to bring tangible school improvement ideas to life.

Tara Maynard
Tara Maynard
Flipping the Script on Middle Grades Math

Tara is an innovative and veteran middle school math teacher, started flipping her classroom in 2012. Tara’s specialties include engaging math learners and creating a collaborative classroom.

Anthony Tyrkala
Anthony Tyrkala
Adolescents, What Are They Thinking?

Anthony is a principal who understands the importance of understanding students. He believes that when school leaders are armed with a knowledge of these development needs, we will be able to make more informed decisions that benefit students.

Practitioner Spotlights

Nathan Maynard
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Nathan Maynard
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Nathan Maynard
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Nathan Maynard
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Nathan Maynard
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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.