New England League of Middle Schools

What New England League of Middle Schools does

The New England League of Middle Schools (NELMS) is a 501(c)-style nonprofit organization founded in 1974 and headquartered in Georgetown, Massachusetts, that serves as the premier regional membership association for middle level (grades 5-8) education in New England. The organization serves approximately 300 member schools and 15,000+ individual members across Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, with a Board of Directors composed of elected representatives from each of the six states plus educator and business members. NELMS delivers a diversified portfolio of products including its flagship 45th Annual Middle Level Conference & Exhibits (March 2026, ~500 attendees, described as the largest regional middle school event in America), the research-based Whole School Assessment Program grounded in AMLE frameworks, the Summer Leadership Institute, Middle Ground 10-month leadership learning group, Planting Possibility workshops, Student Leadership Conferences at four regional sites, Spotlight Schools recognition, the James P. Garvin Distinguished Service Award (since 1986), the MidLines monthly newsletter, and the bestselling "Learning How to Kiss a Frog" book authored by former Executive Director Dr. James P. Garvin.

The organization operates on a distributed digital and in-person infrastructure, using a Wix.com-hosted website (nelms.org), Wild Apricot for membership database management, and InkSoft for the NELMS Swag merchandise store. Registration and conference management rely on Microsoft Forms and Adobe PDF workflows. Revenue is generated through seven distinct streams: tiered membership dues (Comprehensive School $350, Small School $250, Individual Educator $95, Business $349, College/University $449, Parent/Retiree/Student $50 on a July-June membership year), annual conference registration ($375-$495), exhibitor booths ($650-$800) and sponsorships, school assessment professional services, professional development workshop fees, graduate credit fees through a Southern New Hampshire University partnership, and merchandise and book sales. The go-to-market motion is primarily event-driven and relationship-led, leveraging the annual conference as the central demand-generation engine supplemented by direct membership sales, educator referrals, multi-channel social media presence (Facebook, X, Bluesky, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and an Anchor.fm podcast called Teachers' Cup of Coffee hosted by Assistant Executive Director Dr. Timothy Allen). The organization employs a small staff of 1-10 people led by Executive Director Jeff Rodman (since August 2018), Assistant Executive Director Dr. Timothy Allen, Finance Director Marita Lanzilotta, and Office Manager/Events Coordinator Karin Wilmarth, with Christopher T. Pollet assuming Board Chairperson role effective July 2026.

Name

New England League of Middle Schools

Legal name

New England League of Middle Schools

Website

https://nelms.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NELMS is a 50-year-old Massachusetts-based nonprofit membership association serving approximately 300 middle schools and 15,000+ educators across the six New England states through conferences, professional development, school assessment services, and recognition programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Professional Development and Membership Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGADAL

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

Keywords

• Middle school education
• Professional development
• Educator membership association
• School assessment services
• Education conference organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Georgetown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from schools, individual educators, business members, college/university, and parents/retirees. Tiers include Comprehensive School Membership ($350), Small School Membership ($250), Individual Educator ($95), Business Membership ($349), College/University ($449), and Parent/Retiree/Student ($50).
2. Annual Conference Revenue: Registration fees for the Annual Middle Level Conference & Exhibits. Early registration $375 (member), Regular $450 (member), Non-member $495. Includes boxed lunch both days. Presenters receive $50 discount.
3. School Assessment Services: Whole School Assessment services provided to schools, tailored to individual needs and budgets, including a planning phase, 3-day on-site visit, and final assessment report.
4. Book Sales: Sale of the book 'Learning How to Kiss a Frog' published by NELMS at $12.00 per copy plus shipping, with bulk pricing available.
5. Exhibitor and Sponsorship Revenue: Exhibit booth sales at the Annual Conference: $650 early rate (until Dec 4, 2025), $800 after. Sponsorship opportunities for keynote speakers, luncheon speakers, and products (tote bags, pens).
6. Professional Development Workshop Fees: Fees for workshops including Summer Leadership Institute, Planting Possibility, and Middle Ground programs, with discounted rates for members.
7. Graduate Credit Fees: 3 graduate credits from Southern New Hampshire University available to conference attendees who complete additional requirements.
8. Merchandise Sales: NELMS-branded merchandise sold through the InkSoft-powered NELMS Swag store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

NELMS is a nonprofit membership organization that delivers professional development, recognition, advocacy, and community-building services to middle level (grades 5-8) educators across New England. Its core offerings include tiered annual memberships, a flagship annual conference and exhibits, the Whole School Assessment program, leadership institutes and learning groups, student leadership programs, recognition awards for schools, educators, and students, and a publication library including the MidLines newsletter and books on middle level education.

Product overview

The New England League of Middle Schools (NELMS) offers a portfolio of professional development programs, recognition awards, and educational resources for middle level educators across New England. The core offerings include the Annual Middle Level Conference & Exhibits (featuring concurrent sessions, keynote presentations, and graduate credit options), the Spotlight School Recognition Program for schools demonstrating best practices, professional development through the Summer Leadership Institute and Middle Ground Leadership Learning Group, student programs including the Student Leadership Conference and Distinguished Student Awards, Whole School Assessment services, and publications including the MidLines monthly newsletter and the Learning How to Kiss a Frog book. NELMS also provides tiered membership programs with benefits including conference discounts and early registration access. These offerings work together to support school improvement, positive student outcomes, and the development of solutions for success in middle level education across the six New England states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Middle Level Conference & Exhibits Flagship annual event of NELMS offering concurrent sessions, keynote presentations, workshop tracks, exhibitor space, and graduate credit opportunities through Southern New Hampshire University for middle level educators across New England.
• Membership Programs Tiered annual membership options for Comprehensive Schools ($350), Small Schools ($250), College/University ($449), Businesses ($349), Individual Educators ($95), and Parents/Retirees/Students ($50), with benefits including conference discounts, early registration, and access to the MidLines newsletter.
• Whole School Assessment Comprehensive school assessment combining self-study with a three-day on-site visit by a visiting team using research from Turning Points 2000 and The Successful Middle School: This We Believe, culminating in a final report with commendations, recommendations, and 3-5 year professional development planning.
• Summer Leadership Institute Two-day summer professional development institute for middle level school administrators focused on student-centered change, inclusive school culture, and mental health awareness.
• Middle Ground: A Leadership Learning Group 10-month leadership learning group running September through June with monthly Zoom sessions, providing ongoing professional development and peer support for middle school leaders.
• Student Leadership Conference Day-long student leadership conferences themed 'Grow. Lead. Inspire.' featuring interactive workshops, team-building activities, and inspiring speakers for teams of up to 5 middle school students plus an advisor per school.
• Spotlight School Recognition Program Recognition program identifying schools with a record of powerful and research-based learning for young adolescents that consistently observe middle level best practices based on concepts from The Successful Middle School: This We Believe.
• James P. Garvin Distinguished Service Award Prestigious annual award presented since 1986 to one or more outstanding New England educators selected by the Board of Directors at the Annual Conference, recognized as the most prestigious honor in the NELMS portfolio.
• Middle Level Distinguished Student Awards Celebration Virtual awards celebration honoring outstanding 5th-8th graders across New England who demonstrate qualities such as teamwork, dependability, respect, service to others, and empathy, with state-specific celebrations in Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
• MidLines Newsletter Monthly newsletter for professional educators with teacher-to-teacher emphasis covering current topics and educational opportunities, available free to NELMS members.
• Learning How to Kiss a Frog Book Bestselling book by Dr. James P. Garvin explaining characteristics of early adolescence in accessible terms, published and sold by NELMS for $12 per copy plus shipping, with bulk pricing available, for parents and middle-level educators.
• NELMS Swag Store Online merchandise store offering NELMS-branded apparel and promotional items powered by InkSoft, serving members and supporters of the organization.
• Equity and Gender Position Statements Formal organizational position statements and resources addressing equity, racial/social justice, cultural bias, and gender inclusivity for trans and non-binary students, providing policy guidance to member schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• The NELMS Annual Conference is the largest regional middle school event in America with over 500 attendees
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Southern New Hampshire UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for graduate credit: NELMS conference attendees can earn 3 graduate credits (EDTS 501NE - Issues and Trends in Middle Level Education) from Southern New Hampshire University by attending both conference days, tracking sessions, and submitting a final project. Instructor: Christopher Pollet. Course runs March 19, 2026 to June 30, 2026, 100% online asynchronous.
• Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place HotelminorOthersHost venue for the 45th Annual Middle Level Conference & Exhibits (March 19-20, 2026). NELMS has a contracted room block at $169/night for traditional double and king rooms. Hotel noted as having coronavirus air filtration measures.
• Hilton (Portsmouth/PWMKIHX)minorOthersHost venue for Summer Leadership Institute (July 14-15, 2026) at the Kittery Community Center, with hotel room block available through Hilton. Group code: CHH909.
• Husson UniversityminorOthersHost venue for Student Leadership Conference on Thursday, October 22, 2026 in Bangor, ME.
• Southern New Hampshire University (Manchester, NH)minorOthersHost venue for Student Leadership Conference on Friday, October 23, 2026 in Manchester, NH.
• Massachusetts Maritime AcademyminorOthersHost venue for Student Leadership Conference on Thursday, October 29, 2026 in Buzzards Bay, MA.
• American International CollegeminorOthersHost venue for Student Leadership Conference on Friday, October 24, 2025 in Springfield, MA. Also home institution of Dr. Timothy Allen (Assistant Executive Director) and Dr. Peter Gillen.
• LowellFive Bank (Tewksbury, MA)minorOthersHost venue for Planting Possibility workshop on November 4, 2026, at the Community Room, 30 International Place, Tewksbury, MA 01876.
• Cor Creative PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by luncheon keynote presenters Maureen Chapman and James Simons. The company provides inspiring and practical professional development for educators. Maureen and James co-authored the Solution Tree book 'Leaders of the Class.' They present at NELMS annual conference as keynote speakers.
• Experiential Tools (Jen Stanchfield)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJen Stanchfield, M.S., of Experiential Tools is a presenter at NELMS Summer Leadership Institute (2026) and 2026 recipient of the James P. Garvin Distinguished Service Award. She inspires educators worldwide with workshops and books on experiential learning.
• Berckemeyer Consulting Group (Jack Berckemeyer)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJack Berckemeyer is a featured presenter at NELMS Summer Leadership Institute and 2012 recipient of the James P. Garvin Distinguished Service Award. He is the author of 'Elements of Effective Teaming' and 'Managing the Madness: A Practical Guide to Middle Grades Classrooms.'
• Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMLE's research publications (Turning Points 2000, The Successful Middle School: This We Believe) form the foundational research basis for NELMS assessment programs and Spotlight School criteria. Dr. James P. Garvin, namesake of the NELMS Garvin Award, was past President of AMLE.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE): AMLE is the national professional organization for middle level education, the direct counterpart and research partner for NELMS. It operates at national scale on the same research frameworks (Turning Points 2000, This We Believe) that NELMS uses for its Whole School Assessment and Spotlight programs.
• Learning Forward: Learning Forward (formerly NSDC) is the leading professional association focused on professional learning for educators. Comparable to NELMS in mission of advancing educator development, but operating nationally across all grade levels rather than specializing in middle level.

Broad incumbents

• ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development): ASCD is a large, established education association serving educators and school leaders across all grade levels and subjects. It overlaps with NELMS in providing professional development, conferences, and publications, but as part of a much broader portfolio rather than a middle-level specialist.
• National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP): NASSP is the national principal association covering middle and high school leadership. Comparable to NELMS in serving middle-level school leaders and offering conferences and recognition programs, but as a national, broader-scope incumbent.
• National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP): NAESP is the national principal association for elementary and middle school leaders. Comparable to NELMS in serving K-8 administrators with professional development, conferences, and recognition, but operating nationally and across all elementary levels.
• Phi Delta Kappa International: PDK International is a long-standing professional association for educators focused on research, leadership, and service. Comparable to NELMS as a membership organization serving educators with publications and recognition, but with a national footprint and broader research mission.
• Association of American Educators (AAE): AAE is a national, non-union professional association for educators offering liability insurance, legal protection, and professional development. Comparable to NELMS as a membership-based educator organization, but operating nationally with a broader service portfolio.

Emerging players

• Edcamp Foundation: Edcamp Foundation runs free, participant-driven educator unconferences across the U.S. It is comparable to NELMS as a professional learning community for educators but with a fundamentally different, lower-cost, more distributed event model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheRealNELMS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NELMSinfo
• Facebookfacebook.com/NELMSinfo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-england-league-of-middle-schools
• Instagraminstagram.com/therealnelms01
• TikTokvm.tiktok.com/ZTRpT1Kfu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about New England League of Middle Schools