2007 Cooking Up Change in Middle Level Education
AIMS awards six Illinois Horizon School to Watch for 2007 now totaling 12 in the state. AIMS launches new web design in August.
2006 Taking Middle-Level Education to New Heights
AIMS recognizes long time board members Harold Wolff and Ron Hayes with the Robert Knight Award. AIMS staff contributing editors for the Encyclopedia of Middle Grades Education
2005 Thinking Outside The Box: Advocating for the Middle
AIMS receives a federally funded Physical Education Program grant and begins working with 11 network schools to improve physical education curriculum and instruction. AIMS staff authors Looking at Student and Teacher Work for NMSA.
2003 Navigating the Middle
AIMS approved to be a National Forum Schools to Watch state. The Illinois Horizon School-to-Watch program begins with four schools applying.
2002 Capitalize on Success
AIMS receives the highest rating for their work as the Turning Points Regional Center serving 24 Turning Point schools across Illinois. Deb Schrock becomes AIMS third executive director.
1999 Linking Learning: Minds in Motion
AIMS becomes the Regional Center for New American Schools Turning Points Design Model. AIMS provides all school reform professional development for schools receiving state funding.
1995 Middle School: That Magic Kingdom
AIMS and ISBE join efforts to co-direct the Carnegie Project in Illinois. AIMS network numbers 100 schools including 10 Carnegie Systemic Change Schools.
1994 Focus Towards Tomorrow
Deborah Kasak appointed as second executive director for AIMS.
1992 The Middle Level Puzzle: Making The Pieces Fit
U.S. Department of Education Grant: Project Initiative Middle Level comes to an end. AIMS continues its mission to serve middle level education and retains its first executive director, Barb Sartain.
1991 Meeting the Challenge of Change
Network schools participate in the School Improvement Self Study, a comprehensive evaluation and assessment system developed by Center for Prevention Research and Development in partnership with AIMS. Network schools use the Self-Study data to guide their improvement efforts.
1990 Moving into the 90’s: Making It a Decade to Remember
AIMS assists ISBE to secure the Carnegie Middle Grades State Policy Planning Initiative Grant. The grant allows the fledgling network of schools to work together to improve their educational practices through professional development and evaluation.
1989 Charting the Course
AIMS receives U.S. Department of Education Grant: Project Initiative Middle Level. AIMS utilizes the grant to develop the initial AIMS Illinois Middle Grades Network with twelve schools. Barb Sartain becomes the project director.
1985 Current Shock: Life with the Early Adolescent
AIMS Board decides to create the AIMS Journal. The Board also authorizes the development of the AIMS Summer Institute (now known as Summer Splash). To this day, the Summer Institute offers professional development and networking to Illinois’ middle level educators.
1984 The Middle Ages: The Quest. Excellence for 10-14 Year Olds
The Early Adolescent Education Association of Illinois merges with AIMS.
1980 Middle School Energy for the 80’s
Delegation from AIMS Board attends the Illinois State Board of Education State (ISBE) Certification Board Meeting. Board members present the case for middle grades preparation requirements.
1977
AIMS receives affiliate status from NMSA in November and prepares for its first annual conference to be held in April of 1978.
1976 Arching the Gap
First organizational meeting of AIMS initiated by a small gathering of educators from Illinois at the 1976 national Middle School Association Annual Conference in St. Louis. The group’s focus is the promotion of best practices for middle level education.