Lee Middle School Selected for Middle School Matters Program

The George W. Bush Institute at the George W. Bush Presidential Center has announced that Lee Middle School is one of eight new schools, and one of only six Texas schools, selected to participate in the second year of the Middle School Matters (MSM) Institute.  MSM schools receive high-quality research-based school improvement strategies from the Bush Institute’s national experts, yearlong professional support, and an invitation to the three-day Middle School Matters Summer Conference.  

Over the past several years, the Bush Institute, in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk at the University of Texas, has convened numerous top national education researchers who have translated research into practice in schools and provided highly effective support to schools chosen to be a part of this select group.

“Through Middle School Matters, the Bush Institute builds a bridge between our top expert researchers in the field, and those in the classrooms charged with preparing our students for success in high school and post-secondary endeavors,” said Beth Ann Bryan, Interim Director of Education Reform at the George W. Bush Institute.  “We are making proven strategies for success in the middle grades available to our teachers and school leaders across the nation.” 

Lee Middle School was chosen from a pool of nationwide applicants.  Sharon Vaughn, Executive Director of MCPER at the University of Texas commented, “We are thrilled at having the opportunity to work with such progressive middle schools who are committed to using proven strategies for success in the middle grades with our teachers and school leaders across the nation.”

Compelled by Mrs. Laura W. Bush’s conviction “Middle school is the last and best chance to prepare students for a successful high school career,” the Bush Institute founded Middle School Matters (MSM) to transform the formative middle grades so that a greater number of children are given the foundational skills needed for high school and post-secondary success.