R.J. Long, the student council advisor for Quaker Valley Middle School, has been named Middle Level 2012 Advisor of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils.

The social studies teacher was presented the award during the association’s annual conference that was held Nov. 1-3, 2012, in New Castle.

Long was nominated in the spring by Izzy Olive, who served as the middle school’s student council president during the 2011-12 school year, and by Sean Aiken, middle school principal.

“Mr. Long’s dedication to student council is evident to anyone who has the honor of meeting him. Never has a single teacher made such an impact on the students they advise,” Izzy wrote. “He promotes citizenship, scholarship, integrity and courage. Anyone is Mr. Long’s presence will stand a little straighter, think a little harder, and be a lot nicer.”

Long has served in several leadership capacities within the PASC organization. He is currently in his second year as the director of PASC District 3, which serves Allegheny County’s 43 school districts. In addition to serving as director of the District 3 Board, he is responsible for managing all of the student council activities and conferences throughout District 3, including middle school mini-leadership conferences in the fall and a district-wide leadership conference in the spring. Long served as middle school advisor on the board in 2006 and 2009. In addition, he has worked at the PASC Summer Leadership Workshops for the past 12 summers.

Long joined the Quaker Valley faculty in 2005 and is currently serving his eighth year as middle school student council advisor. He earned a bachelor’s degree in American history from Dickinson College and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

As Pennsylvania’s Advisor of the year, Long is Pennsylvania’s nominee for the National Association of Student Councils National Middle School Student Council Award that will be presented at the national conference June 20-24, 2013, in Las Vegas.