Happy Fall to all MMSA members and middle level educators throughout the state. I hope that your school year is off to a great start and that you are enjoying connecting with your students and colleagues. Connecting with many of you throughout the last six years has been one of the best parts of serving as MMSA's Executive Director; those connections were tested during the pandemic when our exciting in-person annual state conference was no longer an option. Many of you joined us as we engaged online each month, working to support one another while offering effective young adolescent focused professional development opportunities. I am proud of the work we have done together and am very appreciative of those that I served with on the Board! It is time to transition leadership of this great organization, and I am pleased that Kyle Fodness has agreed to take the reins. I believe he is well-positioned to rebuild a strong Board of committed members--and I know he would love to hear from you if you are interested in learning more about that role and/or about how you can play a role in the future of MMSA. Thank you for all you do for middle level learners--your work is so important and it is my hope that together we can continue to make MMSA a strong organization that is there to energize and support middle level educators. Thank you, too, for allowing me to serve as your Executive Director for the last six years. I look forward to continuing to be a member and to supporting the new leadership team. Sincerely, Karen Moroz

Hello! My name is Kyle Fodness. I teach 7th grade American History at Bemidji Middle School.  I graduated with degrees in history and political science from the University of Minnesota, then with a degree in Secondary Social Studies Education and a minor in athletic coaching from Bemidji State. I also received my Master of Arts in Teaching from BSU. I have enjoyed being a part of the school community in Bemidji, and have been involved in many different activities as a participant and a coach. I am currently coach the Bemidji State Women’s Tennis team, the Bemidji High School Boys Tennis team, and the BHS Girls Tennis team.  I try to stay active with sports and outdoor activities, and also like to read when I have time, from current events to a good adventure story. I think that getting middle school students reading, developing hobbies, and getting involved in extracurricular activities is vital in the learning process. I am very passionate about the value of the middle school philosophy, and I look forward to carrying forward the great tradition of the MMSA!