Dr. Ed Lyman, Judson ISD Superintendent

By Dr. Ed Lyman
Judson ISD Superintendent

Judson voters approved a high school/college partnership campus involving the Judson School District and Alamo Community Colleges in November. In doing so, the community entrusted both education systems with creating the unique partnership school on-time and within budget.

Judson and ACCD administrators have been working closely to establish structural and curricular criteria that will create a facility that meets mutually agreed upon needs from both entities and ultimately the community we serve.

These discussions continue to present as we plan facility requirements for the campus.

Since the college partnership high school idea was first discussed last spring, two-way communication has been open between Northeast Lakeview President Eric Reno and me. I can say that our communications have been — and continue to be — positive and productive.

On March 22, Alamo Community College Chairman Roberto Zarate attended the Judson school board meeting. His message was clear to Judson trustees: ACCD fully supports the early partnership high school and we have the full cooperation of Northeast Lakeview College for the project.

Judson’s involvement and dedication toward the project mirrors Mr. Zarate’s.

I assure the Judson community that the realization of a partnership school between the district and ACCD remains on the horizon as promised to voters last fall.

AVID program launched

Over the past several years much newsprint has been dedicated to the increasing dropout rates experienced by schools and communities across the country.

While many factors contribute to an individual school’s dropout rate, our district’s two high schools have embarked upon a program to not only reverse the dropout rate but also better prepare our students for college.

Advancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID, is designed to target fifth- through 12th-grade students who perform academically in the middle ranges compared to their colleagues. The in-school academic program is designed to open access to rigorous curriculum and improve student achievement by placing these students in advanced courses to prepare them for successful college experiences.

AVID’s systemic approach is designed to support students and educators as they increase schoolwide/districtwide learning and performance. Over the past 26 years, 200,000 students in 2,700 schools, 39 states, Canada and 15 other countries, including the Department of Defense Schools in Europe and Japan, have adopted the AVID program.

AVID benefits students who are usually the first in their families to attend college. The program provides challenging coursework for students with grade point averages between 2.5 and 3.5 — essentially accelerating their academic efforts through rigor and hard work.

In addition to enrolling in the required courses, many of which are AP and honors classes, AVID students take a special elective course that focuses on strategies for success such as: family workshops, colleges and careers, writing curriculum, motivational and enrichment activities, academic support, critical thinking exercises, Socratic seminars, organizational skills, and student leadership training.

On March 1, the district hired a half-time AVID coordinator to begin the process of establishing the program within Judson’s secondary campuses. The program will start with a freshman class next school year and add a high school grade level each year for the next four years. Applications are being distributed to middle school campuses so that eighth-grade students may apply for enrollment in the program next fall.

An AVID site team of eight teachers, administrators and counselors from each high school will attend a one week AVID Institute this summer in order to prepare for the program implementation. AVID coordinator Jennifer Stotts will oversee hiring and training of teachers and tutors for the program.

The success of the program is not guaranteed without hard work and effort on the part of our secondary school teachers and staff. I know that they will put forth the effort so that Judson students succeed as AVID students have nationwide.

Over 90 percent of AVID graduates enroll in college. I’m hopeful that the students of Judson ISD will realize this same success.

Parents whose children are interested in applying may contact Ms. Stotts at 945-5313.