N. R. Burger Middle School is located in the heart of south Mississippi's rolling piney woods in the city of Hattiesburg. Previously known as Twin forks for its location at the fork of the Leaf and Bouie Rivers, Hattiesburg is the education, retail and medical center for more than a quarter of a million people who live throughout the southeast Mississippi region and is also the home of the University of Southern Mississippi, William Carey College and Camp Shelby.

Hattiesburg is known as the "Hub City" because it is located at the intersections of Interstate 59 and U.S. Highways 49, 98 and 11. Hattiesburg is centrally located less than 100 miles from the state capital of Jackson as well as the Gulf Coast, New Orleans and Mobile.

This growing metropolitan area that includes Hattiesburg, Forrest and Lamar Counties, was designated a Metropolitan Statistical Area in 1994 with a combined population of more than 100,000 residents.

N. R. Burger Middle School is the only middle school in the Hattiesburg School District and receives students from six feeder schools. The student population consists of approximately 725 in the seventh and eighth grades. With a faculty of 55 teachers, N. R. Burger Middle School's main goal is academic achievement.

The mission of N. R. Burger Middle School is to enable all students to graduate as thinkers, problem-solvers and effective communicators who love learning, value diversity and contribute to society. The faculty and staff provide an innovative, integrated curriculum and a challenging nurturing environment through the use of technology and partnerships among students, parents, teachers and community. The principal of N. R. Burger Middle School is Mrs. Joann Wynn.

Continued economic expansion during the past few years has made Hattiesburg one of the most dynamic and fastest growing areas in the Southeast.

With its economic beginnings in the timber industry of the late 1800s, to the mobilization of the military in 1915 and World War II at Camp Shelby, to the prosperous growth of the 1990s, Hattiesburg stands ready to move into the 21st century as a progressive, economically healthy community that nurtures a quality of life second to none.

Selection Process

The selection process for Burger Middle School's Student Tech Team was conducted through Tech Team applications, teacher recommendations and interviews. The Tech Team is also used as an intervention for students who are strong academically but, may have had some discipline problems prior to the selection process. The teacher recommendations were based upon the student's academic records, behavior and technology skills. The students must currently have an A-B average in all courses and not have been issued more than one detention or referral since the opening of school. Once selected for the Tech Team, students are expected to maintain their A-B average and refrain from receiving any detentions or referrals during the current school year.

Upon completion of the teacher recommendations, student interviews and grade checks, students completed the process by writing a one paragraph essay. Students wrote on the topic "What contributions do you expect to make to the Tech Team and what would you like to learn?"

Responsibilities

The Student Tech Team is required to attend class daily with the Technology Facilitators. During this class time, students are trained on various technological skills. Once the students increase their basic technology skills, they will be sent into the classrooms to assist teachers and students with class activities, student projects, equipment maintenance, online curriculum research, and more.