2026 NCMLE Conference Registration Included!
Learn more about the Middle Ground: Leadership Excellence Network below!
What is the Middle Ground: Leadership Excellence network
The Mission
The Benefits
The Mission
The North Carolina Association for Middle Level Education understands the need for professional development specific to our middle school administrators.
Middle Ground: Leadership Excellence Network provides the necessary training for our new and experienced middle school administrators.
The Program
The Benefits
The Mission
Middle Ground: Leadership Excellence Network provides a flexible professional development opportunity with young-adolescent, NC specific material at the forefront of learning.
Virtual and in-person meetings provides flexibility in your schedule, but emphasizes the importance of networking and building a professional learning network!
The Benefits
The Benefits
The Benefits
Enjoy professional development from the most experienced EDU leadership minds in the field!
Not only will you benefit professionally from the high quality learning opportunities, but the professional learning network you will build will offer benefits for years to come!
In-Person & Virtual Meetings to fit your busy schedule!
Launching a Successful School Year
Professional Development at the 2026 NCMLE Conference
Launching a Successful School Year
2025 Early Fall Virtual Meeting 7/30/25, 8/1/25, & 8/4/25 (90 min. each)
Finding Clarity & Purpose
Professional Development at the 2026 NCMLE Conference
Launching a Successful School Year
2025 Winter In-Person Retreat (Location TBD) 11/13/25 - 11/14/25
Professional Development at the 2026 NCMLE Conference
Professional Development at the 2026 NCMLE Conference
Professional Development at the 2026 NCMLE Conference
2026 Spring In-Person NCMLE Conference 3/22/26 - 3/24/26
Celebrations, Reflections, & On-Going Support
Professional Development at the 2026 NCMLE Conference
Professional Development at the 2026 NCMLE Conference
2026 Spring Virtual Meeting 5/7/26
Meet the Leadership Excellence Network Lead Facilitators
Dr. Darrin Peppard
Dr. Darrin Peppard is a dynamic keynote speaker, leadership expert, and consultant with a passion for transforming organizational culture and developing the next generation of leaders. As a former high school principal turned leadership coach, Darrin draws from nearly 30 years of experience in education to inspire leaders to embrace clarity, purpose, and joy in their work. He is the best-selling author of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader and the new book Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools. Darrin helps organizations reimagine their culture, cultivate strong leadership, and foster environments where people and teams can truly excel.
Dr. Frederick Buskey
Dr. Frederick Buskey helps assistant principals live and lead better. Building on 32 years of K-12 and higher education leadership experience, Dr. Buskey provides simple frameworks and tools to help school leaders spend less time putting out fires and invest more time in growing teachers. Dr. Buskey hosts The Assistant Principal Podcast, writes a daily leadership email, and hosts courses for leaders at his Strategic Leadership Academy. He has recently released his first book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. Read more about Dr. Buskey on his website and connect with him on LinkedIn.