Unrestricted.2016-11-142011-02-182016-11-141996-12http://hdl.handle.net/2346/18273A relevant staff development program is essential in order to afford teachers opportunities for professional growth and to provide teachers with needed competencies and skills. The concern of this study is that most junior high school teachers in West Texas lack the knowledge, skills, and competencies that are needed to meet the fundamental educational needs of transescent students. Meanwhile, many junior high schools are becoming middle schools and this increases the importance of appropriate staff development. Therefore the use of a needs assessment instrument is effective to determine staff development needs for teachers making the transition from traditional junior high school teaching to middle school teaching.application/pdfengMiddle schoolsDifferentiated teaching staffsMiddle school teacherJunior high schoolsDissertation