About EDU

History

Progressive educators from Wisconsin and Minnesota formed a non-profit organization - Educational Development Unlimited (EDU) - in December 2003. Those educators who met were concerned with the trajectory of middle level education. There was a sense the progressive education voices continued to be muted. Also, there was a practical need to provide professional development and on-site teacher coaching for schools in the upper midwest that had received a Turning Point grant, one of the Comprehensive School Reform (CSR) federal models. EDU's first board of directors included a practicing principal, a practicing instructional coordinator, a university program coordinator of Counselor Education, four other professors from three universities located in three states, an elected city council member and an in-school Turning Points Professional Development Coach. All had an active interest in middle level education and progressive educational practices.

In the summer of 2004, EDU held its first Turning Points conference at Sherman Middle School in Madison, Wisconsin. The conference included a keynote speaker representing National Turning Points in Boston. At the end of the three-day conference, National Turning Points granted affiliate status to EDU, serving Wisconsin and Minnesota.

EDU established a formal relationship with Bemidji State University in northern Minnesota to provide graduate credits for professional development opportunities. EDU became the provider of Bemidji State's graduate credits for the National Middle School Association's annual conference in 2004 that was held in Minneapolis.

In 2005, two EDU professors established a Master's cohort group through Bemidji State University. Also, EDU co-sponsored the Minnesota Middle Level Association's conference in the Twin Cities. Sherman Middle School became EDU's first Turning Points school. EDU board member, Dr. James Beane, was the faculty's professional development coach. EDU delivered the second Setting Sail with Turning Points conference in Madison.

The board of EDU decided to pursue the development of a manuscript that would describe progressive middle level practices. They invited Dr. Nancy Doda, Dr. Trudy Knowles and Carol Smith to create The Center for Powerful Education, funded by EDU. The first meeting of EDU's affiliate, in Spring Green, followed the Turning Points conference. The writers met next during the National Middle School Association conference in Philadelphia.

In 2006, Sherman Middle School successfully finished its Turning Point grant. The Masters cohort group through Bemidji State University continued. The Center for Powerful Education met in Madison in the summer. The writer's had their first premier at the National Middle School Conference in Nashville. Our session was well-received.

Dr. Barbara Brodhagen, a EDU board member and Center for Powerful Education writer, received the National Middle School's John Lounsbury Award in Nashville. The Lounsbury Award is NMSA most prestigious recognition. EDU sponsored the travel of Dr. Brodhagen's colleagues so they could witness this most important event.

In 2007, EDU partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to hold the first Progressive Middle Level Education Summer Summit. This August event included progressive educators, who were invited to envision education beyond the constraints of No Child Left Behind. The writers from the Center for Powerful Education will participate and continue their work after the summit.




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Pages • Front Page • About EDU • Who We Are • Affiliations • Events and Projects • Links	EDU Progressing with the times History Progressive educators from Wisconsin and Minnesota formed a non-profit organization - Educational Development Unlimited (EDU) - in December 2003. Those educators who met were concerned with the trajectory of middle level education. There was a sense the progressive education voices continued to be muted. Also, there was a practical need to provide professional development and on-site teacher coaching for schools in the upper midwest that had received a Turning Point grant, one of the Comprehensive School Reform (CSR) federal models. EDU's first board of directors included a practicing principal, a practicing instructional coordinator, a university program coordinator of Counselor Education, four other professors from three universities located in three states, an elected city council member and an in-school Turning Points Professional Development Coach. All had an active interest in middle level education and progressive educational practices. In the summer of 2004, EDU held its first Turning Points conference at Sherman Middle School in Madison, Wisconsin. The conference included a keynote speaker representing National Turning Points in Boston. At the end of the three-day conference, National Turning Points granted affiliate status to EDU, serving Wisconsin and Minnesota. EDU established a formal relationship with Bemidji State University in northern Minnesota to provide graduate credits for professional development opportunities. EDU became the provider of Bemidji State's graduate credits for the National Middle School Association's annual conference in 2004 that was held in Minneapolis. In 2005, two EDU professors established a Master's cohort group through Bemidji State University. Also, EDU co-sponsored the Minnesota Middle Level Association's conference in the Twin Cities. Sherman Middle School became EDU's first Turning Points school. EDU board member, Dr. James Beane, was the faculty's professional development coach. EDU delivered the second Setting Sail with Turning Points conference in Madison. The board of EDU decided to pursue the development of a manuscript that would describe progressive middle level practices. They invited Dr. Nancy Doda, Dr. Trudy Knowles and Carol Smith to create The Center for Powerful Education, funded by EDU. The first meeting of EDU's affiliate, in Spring Green, followed the Turning Points conference. The writers met next during the National Middle School Association conference in Philadelphia. In 2006, Sherman Middle School successfully finished its Turning Point grant. The Masters cohort group through Bemidji State University continued. The Center for Powerful Education met in Madison in the summer. The writer's had their first premier at the National Middle School Conference in Nashville. Our session was well-received. Dr. Barbara Brodhagen, a EDU board member and Center for Powerful Education writer, received the National Middle School's John Lounsbury Award in Nashville. The Lounsbury Award is NMSA most prestigious recognition. EDU sponsored the travel of Dr. Brodhagen's colleagues so they could witness this most important event. In 2007, EDU partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to hold the first Progressive Middle Level Education Summer Summit. This August event included progressive educators, who were invited to envision education beyond the constraints of No Child Left Behind. The writers from the Center for Powerful Education will participate and continue their work after the summit.