Gary Miller Jr

Gary A. Miller Jr. brings over two decades of education experience to his role as principal of Northridge Middle School in Springfield, Ohio. Over the course of his career, Gary A. Miller Jr. has worked to stay current in his field through memberships in groups such as the Ohio Middle Level Association.

Since 1973, the Ohio Middle Level Association (OMLA) has been providing professional support and resources to educators who serve students ages 10 to 15. As part of its work, the group offers grants and awards, produces publications, and hosts events such as an annual state conference.

The most recent OMLA State Conference was held November 7-8, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. The event explored the theme “Thriving in the Middle: Planting Seeds for a Growing Tomorrow” through a two-day education program featuring breakout sessions and keynote presentations.

The keynote speakers at the 2019 OMLA State Conference were Dr. Todd Whitaker, a professor of educational leadership at the University of Missouri, and Dave Burgess, the best-selling author of Teach Like A Pirate: Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator. The conference also featured a presentation from Jack Berckemeyer, a humorist, author, and middle-level education expert.

OMLA members can expect similar programming at the group’s 2020 State Conference, which is tentatively scheduled to take place October 22-23 at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Sandusky. More information about the conference and other OMLA programs and events is available at www.ohiomla.org.

Veteran educator Gary Miller Jr. has served as the principal of Northridge Middle School in Springfield, Ohio, since 2014. Gary Miller Jr.’s school is a participant in the Ohio-based Power of the Pen program for developing writing skills.

The organization was the brainchild of Lorraine B. Merrill, who reasoned that schools should have writing teams along with athletic teams. After launching Power of the Pen in 1986 in a few locations, she won a Christa McAuliffe fellowship to take the program statewide. Over 3,500 students now compete in the group’s competitions.

In addition to holding tournaments, the Power of the Pen program provides writing resources and helps teachers share best practices. Tasked with enhancing academic performance as a whole, Power of the Pen provides so-called mentor texts for participants to emulate. The program has been instrumental in shaping students for successful writing careers. One graduate is now a writer for the Tonight Show, while another has been a journalist for 40 years.

To learn more about the program, please visit powerofthepen.org/.

Gary Miller Jr

Ohio Middle Level Association’s Annual State Conference

Power of the Pen Nurtures Middle School Student Writers