New England League of Middle Schools recognizes UMaine’s Nesin with service award
Gert Nesin, teacher-leader in residence with the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development’s Center for Applied Research on Education and Schools (CARES), has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 James P. Garvin Distinguished Service Award by the New England League of Middle Schools (NELMS).
The award was presented at the NELMS annual conference, held March 24 and 25 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Nesin is a longtime middle grades educator who currently serves as president of the Maine Association for Middle Level Education. She recently rejoined UMaine, where she is responsible for facilitating the Rural Teacher Leader Support Network at CARES. She had previously been a faculty member in the college before taking on roles as a middle school teacher and principal.
Nesin holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in middle school education from UMaine, as well as a Ph.D. in middle school education from the University of Georgia. Her research areas include young adolescent development, integrated curriculum, building community, restorative practices, assessment and math learning.