General philosophy on teaching and learning: The IB Program and Lamar Academy expands opportunities for original and critical thought through the academically rigorous study of traditional disciplines; educates the whole person so that students become lifelong learners, self-aware and compassionate thinkers, and informed participants in both local and world affairs and; encourage students to become learned and accepting of cultural diversity and to develop international perspectives.
History: Lamar Academy, located in central McAllen, Texas, serves approximately 540 students in three distinct programs. Options High School and the Eighth Grade Transition Program target students who have been unsuccessful in the traditional classroom setting. The International Baccalaureate Program serves 240 students in grades 9th through 12th who are looking for the most challenging curriculum available to them.
The International Baccalaureate Program at Lamar Academy has been authorized since 2002. Six classes have completed the program. All but one of the 158 students have earned the IB diploma by completing advanced academic coursework that includes mandatory internal assessments, completing a 4,000 word extended essay, completing over 200 community service hours and sitting for rigorous external examinations. Last year the world average for students earning the diploma was just over 80% and the average of the state of Texas was 73%.
Place/location/community: The International Baccalaureate Program @ Lamar Academy is located along the United States-Mexico border in McAllen, Texas. The Texas-Mexico border region forms a unique international crossing area, which formulates into a bi-national, bi-literate and bi-cultural community. This is a region of evolution and consistent change. Both cultures are similar and the economies of the region are strongly linked. The bi-national region has created unique problems for McAllen, Texas.
People:
Students: The McAllen Independent School District (MISD) serves a population of approximately 24,420 students. Of the total population, 90.4% are Hispanic, over 71.6% are economically disadvantaged, and about 34.8% are limited English Proficient (LEP). When compared to the state and the nation, McAllen exhibits some of the most serious economic conditions. According to the 2000 US Census, the region ranks at the bottom of almost every socio-economic indicator. The IB Program @ Lamar Academy is a school of choice. Students are asked to apply for the program and are required to maintain at least a “C” (75) average to remain in the program.
Faculty: Lamar Academy is a school of choice for teachers also. Every IB teacher is committed to making the program successful. The twenty faculty members are dedicated, hard-working and knowledgeable teachers who have ensured the success of the program.
Leadership: The staff of the IB Program @ Lamar Academy consists of a Head of School, IB Coordinator, IB strategist, a guidance counselor and secretary. The IB Coordinator assumes the majority of the responsibility for the day to day operations of the program.
Team members: The IB Program @ Lamar Academy is viewed as a partnership between the faculty and staff, the students, the parents and the community.
Challenge and area of focus: The International Baccalaureate Program @ Lamar Academy is committed to transdisciplinary teaching and learning with a real-world focus.
The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (grades 9 – 10) requires teachers to develop both trans-disciplinary as well as stand alone lessons. These units are focused through five “Areas of Interaction”: Approaches to Learning, Human Ingenuity, Environment, Health and Social Education, and Community and Service. Additionally, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (grades 11 – 12) requires all students to take a special course called “Theory of Knowledge” that explores sources of knowledge across the disciplines and teaches students to integrate knowledge learned in one area to other areas. Both programs require students to complete projects and solve problems.
The International Baccalaureate Program @ Lamar Academy is committed to creating a college-going culture that prepares students for post-secondary education.
Many people consider the International Baccalaureate Programs to be the best college preparation available to students. The programs require students to perform at a high level across all disciplines, to become bilingual and bi-literate, to complete rigorous internal and external criterion-referenced assessments, to complete research and to complete community service. All Lamar Academy students are required to apply to at least six universities; two dream, two safe and two preferred schools. College recruiters including those from Ivy League schools are regularly invited to speak to IB students.
The International Baccalaureate Program @ Lamar Academy is committed to ongoing and meaningful professional development.
One of the greatest strengths of the IB Programs is the required professional development. Each teacher is required to complete three levels of training. The Introductory training gives an overview of the program and levels one and two fully prepare teachers to deliver the programs.
Implementation
Objectives of the Exemplar Program:
1. Expand opportunities for original and critical thought though the academically rigorous study of traditional disciplines;
2. Educate the whole person so that our students become lifelong learners, self-aware and compassionate thinkers, and informed participants in both local and world affairs;
3. Encourage students to become learned and accepting of cultural diversity and to develop international perspectives
Strategy and Implementation: The IB Programs require a three year authorization process that is easily replicated. The first phase requires the school/s to investigate the suitability and feasibility of implementing the program. Some teachers and administrators are required to attend Level 1 training and then share that training with the rest of their school’s staff. Visiting other authorized schools is encouraged. Phase 1 culminates with the submission of an intent to apply. Successful schools are given candidate status during Phase 2. During this phase schools begin to develop curriculum and put structures and plans in place to deliver the curriculum. Each school is assigned a consultant to give them advice and help them through the process. Additionally, teachers and administrators attend Level 2 training. Phase 2 culminates with the submission of application B. Successful schools are given applicant status and assigned a visiting authorization team. This team will visit the school to determine if curriculum, training and structures are in place to successfully implement the program. Teachers will continue training, vertical and horizontal planning, curriculum and assessment writing and implementation of all other IB Program requirements. The visiting team will make a recommendation to the IB North America Regional director who will then pass that recommendation on to the Director General of the IB in Geneva, Switzerland. He will then determine whether or not the school will receive authorization to become an IB World School. This time-tested process has been quite successful and has been replicated often.
Partners: The McAllen Independent School District and its Board of Trustees has committed to the expansion of the IB Programs across all grade levels. Their collective vision is that eventually we will become an IB district. The programs have great community and business support. As a matter of fact the impetus to implement the IB Programs originally came from the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation who requested that the school district develop centers of excellence that would draw families to McAllen. They even provided the money for the initial investigations. The school district has also worked with the University of Texas Pan American to develop recognition policies for students who complete the requirements of the IB Diploma Program.
Funding: McAllen ISD has a history of coordinating funds to better serve the needs of children. A close relationship has been established between local service agencies and community leaders to provide quality service to the youth of McAllen ISD. The McAllen ISD Board of Trustees is committed to meeting the needs of our diverse student population. Through state and local funding these partners will continue to offer programs and needed services to meet the needs of our students beyond the grant period. Additionally, partners, community leaders, and program staff will engage in a thoughtful and coordinated sustainability planning process to successfully develop plans for continuing and expanding the IB Program. To ensure that the program would continue after the grant period, we will actively begin to look for funding sources to sustain the program over the long term. The plan for sustainability will include an examination of what this grant initiative is trying to sustain, barriers that prevent the initiative from accomplishing its goals, fiscal constraints and resources, and the development of a sustainability plan. The sustainability plan will include an active and careful examination of the following approaches to seek effective and long-term avenues to ensure that the program continues beyond the grant period:
Making Better Use of Existing Resources
Maximizing Federal, State, and Local Revenue
Creating More Flexibility in Existing Streams
Building Public-Private Partnerships
Generating New Dedicated Revenue
Additionally, the Partnership plans to market program services throughout the city by hosting activities, distributing brochures, attracting local media attention and facilitating site visits for key community stakeholders. These efforts will build strong community support for the program.
Outcomes
Lamar Academy and the McAllen Independent School District (McAllen ISD) are committed to providing the Lamar Academy IB students with a rigorous curriculum that will fully prepare them for college, facilitate geographic and cultural mobility and promote international understanding through a shared academic experience. The expectation is that 100% of the IB students will graduate with the IB diploma as well as the Distinguished Achievement Plan diploma issued by the state of Texas and earn a minimum of 24 college credits while in the program. Additionally, all IB students will complete a degree or degrees at a college or university of their choice.
All IB teachers are required to attend three initial levels of training to prepare them to develop and deliver the IB Programs. This training often requires teachers and administrators to travel outside our region and even outside our state. This enables them to interact with their peers from other parts of the United States and even other countries. Locally, the MYP partnership and DP program meet regularly to plan vertically and horizontally. The expectation is that 100% of all IB teachers at Lamar Academy will attend three levels of training.
The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (grades 9 – 10) requires teachers to develop both trans-disciplinary as well as stand alone lessons. These units are focused through five “Areas of Interaction”: Approaches to Learning, Human Ingenuity, Environment, Health and Social Education, and Community and Service. Additionally, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (grades 11 – 12) requires all students to take a special course called “Theory of Knowledge” that explores sources of knowledge across the disciplines and teaches students to integrate knowledge learned in one area to other areas. Both programs require students to complete projects and solve problems. The expectation is that every IB teacher will write, teach and reflect upon trans-disciplinary units of instruction.