Transitioning from Teacher to Instructional Leader.

The article focuses on the role of the National Middle School Association in middle level education in the U.S. It staets that schools are searching for ways to improve student learning and achievement with a growing emphasis on student achievement as a result of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and a strong emphasis on accountability. The association established priorities for middle level schools in the position paper "This We Believe," which focus on middle level teacher preparation and continuous professional development. Related issues are further discussed.