The middle school years are a profound period of physical, intellectual, and social-emotional transformation. To navigate this critical phase, educators need more than just a curriculum; they need a comprehensive philosophy that nurtures the whole child. 

The Association of Middle Level Education (AMLE) Schools of Distinction recognizes schools that embody best practices tailored specifically to young adolescents. Grounded in AMLE’s foundational position paper, “The Successful Middle School: This We Believe,” the framework calls for education to be responsive, challenging, empowering, equitable, and engaging.

As Steward’s Middle School pursued the AMLE School of Distinction designation during the 2025-26 school year, we did not need to adopt a new identity. Instead, AMLE’s framework serves as a mirror, reflecting the Steward community’s deep commitment to our six core values: academic achievement, care and respect, civil discourse, individuality, innovation, and inspiration.

Steward’s Middle School was selected as a School of Distinction because we live out our core values and work to create an environment where all our students feel seen, heard, valued, and safe each day.  We accomplish this because our Middle School faculty are lifelong learners who enjoy teaching adolescents.

After the Middle School administrative team attended the AMLE Institute for Middle Level Leadership in July 2025, we defined four specific goals for our Middle School and tasked each faculty and staff member with setting individual goals as part of their annual evaluation plan. This helped us to align the vision of the faculty and the administrative team and to check our progress throughout the year. Two of the goals focused on the faculty and staff in the community and two focused on the students.

Our faculty and staff goals focused on creating ongoing opportunities to learn best practices for teaching adolescents. First, recognizing that our teachers possess immense expertise, we created intentional venues for them to share their professional knowledge through presentations to their colleagues, strengthening every teacher’s instructional practice. Additionally, as a JK-12 school, we revamped our faculty evaluation process to include “learning walks,” where teachers visit each other’s classrooms to observe, collaborate, and learn. By continuously challenging our faculty, we ensure our students receive a meaningful, high-quality education.

Our student-focused goals targeted engagement in learning. A key focus for us last year was ensuring our students are not just “ready for school,” but “ready to learn.” Led by our Dean of Student Engagement and Support, Dr. Kadie Parsley, we made strategic shifts to support student focus and self-regulation. Our first initiative was to implement flexible seating options in all Middle School classrooms and purposeful movement breaks. This responded directly to the developmental needs of young adolescents, helping them build academic stamina in a space where they feel deeply cared for and understood. Our second initiative connected lessons to our schoolwide theme of nature; students conducted research on specific areas on campus, honed observation skills, and enjoyed outdoor field trips.

Earning recognition as an AMLE School of Distinction is a testament to our dedicated faculty, shared goals, and culture of continuous growth in Steward’s Middle School. For our community, this journey is an opportunity to celebrate the intentional work we do every day. By purposefully intertwining the AMLE essential attributes with Steward’s core values and shared goals, we are not just preparing students for the Upper School — we are equipping them with the intellect, empathy, and agency to drive positive change.