Concurrent Session Descriptions

2010 AVID National Conference

The attendee categories: 1. Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent; 2. School Board Member; 3. District-level Administrator or Coordinator; 4. Principal/Assistant Principal or Site-level Administrator; 5. AVID Coordinator; 6. AVID Teacher; 7. Subject Area Teacher; 8. Counselors/Outreach Coordinators; 9. Postsecondary Leaders

Topics of Interest:

 

African American Male Acceleration

Black Males and Classroom Management: The Teacher's Guide to "De-Maskulating" African American Male Students through Positive Behavior Building Strategies (2.5 hours)

Presenter: Dr. Mack Hines, Consultant, Mack Hines Consulting

Description: This session provides culturally sensitive, research-based strategies for managing the behavioral development of African American male students. The presenter will begin the presentation by explaining how culture impacts the behavior of African American male students, causing many of these students to wear "masks" of frustration and defiance in classroom. Dr. Hines will continue the presentation with a focus on how participants can use African American cultural norms to "de-maskulate" African American males to display the behavioral development and academic achievement needed to excel in schools.

Audience: 1-9

GPISD's "MAN-UP" - Motivating Attitudes that Nurture Understanding your Potential Initiative

Presenters: Dr. Marva T. Dixon, Executive Director of Innovation and Support, Grand Prairie Independent School District, TX; Rosie Mendez, Innovation and Drug/Safe Free School Coordinator, Grand Prairie Independent School District, TX

Description: Supported by the research conducted by Dr. Ivory A. Toldson, "Breaking Barriers: Plotting the Path to Academic Success for School-Age African-American Males", participants will learn strategies and activities used in Grand Prairie ISD's piloted project, "Man-Up" - Motivating Attitudes that Nurture Understanding your Potential initiative. The initiatives includes 6 modules, target MS/HS 8th-12th grade African American and Hispanic Males and focus on increasing academic student performance and attendance, reducing dropout rates, school violence, and helping students understand the impact of their culture within the school and community environment.  Students can then build relational capacity and improve self advocacy, self determination, self motivation.

Audience: 1-9

When is it our turn? African American Males Surviving in American Public Schools

Presenter: Jeanette Patterson, Ed.D., Horizon Middle School/Cherry Creek School District

Description: What is the most important factor that is affecting African American male student's academic achievement in American schools? Racism? Teacher expectations? Curriculum? Teacher quality? This session will identify specific interventions and various instructional strategies for African American males in urban and suburban schools. Learn how teachers and administrators can intervene to improve academic, social personal and psychological predicament of African American students.

Audience: 1-9

Removing the Barriers to African American Male Achievement: The Impact of Culturally Relevant Instruction, Low Teacher Expectations and Unfair Discipline Practices on College Readiness

Presenter: Chance W. Lewis, Ph.D., Endowed Chair and Associate Professor of Urban Education, Texas A&M University

Description: This powerful session will move educators beyond excuses as to why African American males cannot achieve in their classrooms. More specifically, this powerful village meeting will describe the impact of low teacher expectations and unfair discipline practices on college readiness. Most importantly, this session will inform educators on how to properly utilize culturally relevant pedagogy, to bring state standards to life in the classroom. Attendees will be provided interactive exercises based on real state standards in major academic content areas to support the main ideas of this session.

Audience: 1-9

Culturally Relevant Teaching/African American Male Achievement (2.5 hours)

Presenters: Maria Cobb, National Director for Divisional Support, AVID Center; Patrick Briggs, Texas State Assistant Director; Corey Gaither, Math Teacher, Mojave High School,  AVID Coordinator/CREST

Description: Culturally Relevant Teaching SI Strand
This session is designed for experienced AVID administrators, coordinators, elective teachers, and site team members who are ready to conduct a self examination of race and accountability. This strand will provide a framework of effective methodologies that infuse the culture of all students in the classroom to enhance the curriculum and make relevant learning connections to increase comprehension. Participants will be able to create multi dimensional lessons and differentiated evaluations, while incorporating rigor through the use of various learning styles. Intentional cultural instruction provides a college ready atmosphere, where all students can feel accepted for who they are and what they bring to the classroom.

Audience: 1-9


College Readiness Cultures

Enhancing Intrinsic Motivation to Change and Achieve

Presenter: Dr. Gene Eakin, Ph.D., School Counseling Program Lead, Oregon State University

Description: Every change effort by an individual and every change initiative in a school requires that those facilitating change utilize motivational and influence strategies that will lead to the achievement of the desired goals. EIMCA is an interactive workshop that focuses on teaching participants the basic strategies of eliciting change talk from students or others who are just beginning to consider making changes.  The understanding of these change strategies is integral to being able to create a culture of aspiration, motivation, change, and achievement in schools.

Audience: 1-8

Strategies for Catalyzing State Policies and Resolving Fragmentation among Educational Systems

Presenter: Tammi Chun, Executive Director, Hawai‘i P-20 Partnerships for Education (University of Hawai‘i System)

Description: The presentation will focus on Hawai‘i P-20's role in catalyzing state policy development to strengthen the educational pipeline from early childhood through higher education so that all students achieve career and college success.  Examples of successful policy development include instituting a career and college ready high school diploma and an agreement between the Hawai‘i Department of Education and University of Hawai‘i System to recognize students' high school mathematics performance for college mathematics placement.  Programs such as AVID and GEAR UP Scholars projects serve as proof of systems to support students' readiness for career and college.  The presentation will identify strategies for resolving fragmentation among the educational systems and the importance dedicating resources to address inter-agency challenges.

Audience: 1-9

Using AVID to Boost Your International Baccalaureate (IB) Program

Presenters: Eric Wolf Welch, AVID Program Coordinator and Teacher, JEB Stuart High School, Fairfax County Public Schools; Steve D'Adamo, Assistant Principal and AVID Program Coordinator, Glasgow Middle School (feeder middle school to JEB Stuart High School), Fairfax County Public Schools

Description: The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is respected around the world for its rigor in preparing students for higher education.  AVID can be a vehicle for supporting success in the IB program.  Many of the 11 essentials of AVID align with the core principles of the IB program.  Meshing these two programs towards the common goal of having more students go to college is just a matter of creative leadership and commitment towards establishing a college ready culture.  Learn how JEB Stuart High School and Glasgow Middle School, in Falls Church, Virginia have used AVID and IB to create a college ready culture, and learn strategies for making the most out of these two programs in your school.

Audience: 3-8

Transitioning from High School to College

Presenters: Ms. Lisa Thompson, Director of the TRIO Pre-College Programs, UT Arlington; Angela Martin, AVID/College Readiness Coordinator, Mansfield Independent School District, TX

Description: This session will provide a brief overview of TRANSITIONS: A High School Summer Bridge Program and the success of a University and Independent School District partnering to provide opportunities for youth to gain skills associated with college persistence and success with the goal of reducing the need for developmental education thus increasing success in entry-level college courses.  Participants will hear about the design of the program, the objectives that were designed to meet the specific needs of each individual participant and the assistance provided through the academically intensive four week summer bridge component (three weeks non-residential and one week residential) on the UT Arlington campus. 

Audience: 3-8

What We Need to Face in American Education

Presenters: Billy Madigan, AVID Teacher, Steele Canyon High School, CA; Valerie Rivas Martinez, District AVID Director, Fresno Unified School District, CA

"All children have tremendous talents and we squander them pretty ruthlessly…Creativity now is an important as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status." - Sir Ken Robinson

Description: What the world of American education needs to know regarding the radical changes happening in the nation and world. Research on major economic, demographic and political trends and their effects on education will be presented.  Specifically, the power and utility of complex, higher order thinking and whole-brain problem solving will be discussed and modeled.

Audience: 1-9

Educational Progress of AVID Graduates: 2007, 2008, and 2009 Cohorts

Presenters: Dr. Karen M. Watt, Associate Professor, The University of Texas Pan American; Jeffery Huerta, Data and Research Coordinator, The University of Texas Pan American

Description: Participants will learn about the latest research focusing on the academic progress of AVID graduates. High school and college transcripts were analyzed to examine relationships between high school college preparation measures and college performance. Predictors of college success and AVID strategies were identified and will be discussed. Data from three cohorts of AVID graduates will be presented: a predominately Hispanic sample from South Texas (2007), a sample from various regions in Texas (2008), and a larger, more diverse sample from across the nation (2009). 

Audience: 1-9

Step One: Find the Funding, Expand Rigor and College Readiness Through Powerful Funding Sources

Presenters: James K. Lindsay, Director, District Outreach, Southwestern Region, The College Board; Cassandra Allen, Director, District Outreach, Middle States and New England Regions, The College Board

Description: In this presentation, participants will learn about current funding sources, most in the form of grants to expand rigor and college readiness to underrepresented students.  With plans to support all types of initiatives, such as increasing graduation and matriculation rates, linking school districts with institutions of higher education, and achieving equity for advanced academics, district require additional support to reach such ambitious goals.  Current and upcoming grants from the federal, state, and private levels enable strong funding for district level initiatives and reform, but only those who are aware of upcoming grants are best suited to prepare applications that power forward a district's needs, data, and overall messaging necessary for excellent applications.

Audience:1-5

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Elementary to High School Alignment

AVID College Readiness System: A Glimpse into the AVID World

Presenters: Aliber Lozano, National Director of Professional Development, AVID Center, Dr. Michele Marcus, National Director of Program Quality and Professional Development

This session will highlight the components of the AVID College Readiness System: AVID Elementary, AVID Secondary and AVID Postsecondary. Participants will walk away with a strong understanding of each component as well as how their student population may be supported by the AVID College-Readiness System. The session will include an in-depth introduction into AVID Secondary implementation.

AVID Elementary: Planting the Seeds of College Readiness

Presenter: Shannon McAndrews, National Director of Elementary Programs, AVID Center

Welcome to AVID Center's college readiness garden, where we tend to quality implementation, plant a love for learning and cultivate AVID Feeder Pattern Systems. This session will highlight the seedling component, AVID Elementary, which supports and provides smoother transitions into middle school and high school rigor. Participants will be introduced to the philosophy, curriculum and research as well as highlighting the foundational skills students need to acquire prior to entering into courses of rigor.


Exceptional AVID Schools Share Best Practices

AVID Districts and Schools Share Their Best Practices in Rigor

Presenter: TBD

Learn about best practices in rigor from districts and sites whose case studies identified them as the best in the AVID world!  In this session, AVID teams will describe their quality school programs that promote and support a college-going culture, including initiatives that promote access to and success in a rigorous curriculum such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, dual enrollment, and 8th grade algebra.

AVID Districts and Schools Share Their Best Practices in Equity

Presenter: TBD

Learn about best practices in equity from districts and sites whose case studies identified them as the best in the AVID world!  In this session, AVID teams will describe their quality school programs that promote and support a culture of inclusion, sharing best practices that close the significant achievement gaps existing along racial, ethnic, gender, and socio-economic lines.


High School to Postsecondary Alignment

Challenges of College: Insights from the Research Literature

Presenter: Ann M. Johns, PhD., Professor Emerita, Linguistics & Writing Studies, San Diego State University, CA

Description: Research indicates that the gap between high school and college is complex, confusing, and often defeating, especially for the diverse or first-generation student who has had little or no contact with college cultures.  In this presentation, I will draw from the current research to present five elements that prove to be stumbling blocks for students:

  • College courses are often not direct continuations of high school courses.
  • "Academic freedom" of college faculty results in few common standards for classes.
  • Faculty often provide little scaffolding for assignments, assuming students have the key academic skills necessary to complete work without support.
  • Critical thinking often requires deep understanding of complex material—as well as analysis and synthesis of sources.

Students' abilities to search out appropriate study partners and independent study habits are tested.
After briefly presenting each of these elements, I will discuss specific ways in which secondary and post-secondary instructors and support staff can assist students to confront and overcome these challenges, using approaches that have proven successful in the presenter's own 30-year experience with diverse students and as discussed in the literature.

Audience: 5-9

Evaluating the AVID Program Effects on High School Outcomes using a Cohort Simulation

Presenters: Jenny Nagaoka, Associate Director for Postsecondary Studies, The Consortium on Chicago School Research, The University of Chicago, IL; Melanie LaForce, Senior Research Analyst, The Consortium on Chicago School Research, The University of Chicago, IL

Description: Like many districts across the country, the Chicago Public Schools has invested heavily in the AVID program as a strategy to improve the educational outcomes of its students. While the AVID program has been evaluated in other settings, studies rarely address the selection effects inherent in a voluntary program such as AVID. This session presents the findings of a rigorous evaluation of the AVID program in Chicago that examines the impact of the AVID program on 9th grade academic outcomes.

Audience: 1-5, 9

Helping Advance AVID'S Mission: Research and Techniques for Improving College and Career Readiness

Presenter: Charis McGaughy, PhD, Director, Strategic Partnerships and Project Development, Educational Policy Improvement Center (EPIC)

Description: AVID and EPIC share a similar mission to increase the number of high school students graduating college and career ready, particularly students who are first-generation college attendees. This presentation offers an overview of the latest research, tools, and techniques currently being developed by EPIC that can be used to support this mission. Topics include an exploration of a four-part model of college readiness, findings from current college and career readiness projects, and tools and strategies for improving student success.

Audience: 1-9

Learning What Works in Improving High School Students' Access to Post-secondary Education: Implementation of the BC AVID Pilot Project and Student Impacts to Grade 11

Presenter:  Dr. Reuben Ford, Research Director, Social Research and Demonstration Corporation, BC, Canada

Description: Can AVID change the post-secondary education outcomes of middle-achieving high school students in British Columbia, Canada? I will present findings to the completion of Grade 11 from a major project that seeks to determine the impact of the college-preparatory elective class component of the AVID program on high school achievement, graduation and post-secondary participation. The project is operating in 18 sites, representing 21 schools delivering AVID and over 1500 Grade 8 students, recruited in 2005 and 2006. It is one of the first evaluations to test AVID using a rigorous, random assignment design.

Audience: 1-5, 9

A Summary of the Research on Advanced Placement and Other Accelerated Learning Programs

Presenter:  Kristin Klopfenstein, Senior Researcher, UT Dallas Texas Schools Project

Description: A summary of research on the link between Advanced Placement experience and student success with a focus on common misunderstandings. Includes discussion of other accelerated learning options, such as dual credit and Early College High Schools. Discussion will focus on the following questions:

  • How does AP course access differ by school and student characteristics, and how does AP course participation differ by school and student characteristics, given access?
  • Does AP course-taking experience improve first-year college success?
  • Does accelerated learning facilitate timely college graduation?
  • Does AP grade-weighting impact course-taking?
  • Does block scheduling impact student success on standardized tests and AP exams in science and math?

Audience: 3-9

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Latinos and/or English Learners Support

Rigor and Relevance in the ESOL Classroom

Presenters:  Mary Honeck , ESOL Teacher and Team Leader, Pleasant Valley Middle School, KS; Carrie Lutke, Newcomer Teacher, Pleasant Valley Middle School, KS

Description: This presentation provides both PowerPoint  and video illustrations of a Newcomer classroom and the transition into ESOL II using SDAIE scaffolding.  Bridging, modeling, contextualization, schema building, metacognitive development, and text re-presentation are described, modeled, and demonstrated in each of the classrooms.

Audience: 5-8

Successful Strategies for English Language Learners in Math and Science

Presenters:  Miguel Espinoza, High School Science Teacher, Nogales High School, Rowland Unified School District, CA; Sandy Francis, Middle School Math and AVID Elective Teacher, Syracuse City Schools, NY

Description: Educators in a world that is becoming more diverse must develop new skills to teach students whose first language is not English. Participants will learn about, collect, and use data highlighting the key barriers preventing diverse populations of students from reaching success in both the Middle and High School classrooms.  Participants will be able to apply this new knowledge as they experience AVID methodologies and best practices to create differentiated unit lessons in both Math and Science. This session will be a catalyst to improving the academic achievement of our English Language Learners as we expose them to classes of increased rigor.

Audience: 4-8

Accelerating Long-Term English Learners toward College Readiness

Presenters: Michelle Mullen, Curriculum Consultant, AVID Center; Larry Guthrie, researcher from CREATE (Center for Research, Evaluation and Training in Education)

Description: Learn about AVID Center's "English Learner College Readiness" (ELCR) project, a multi-year middle school curriculum to accelerate the acquisition of academic skills and language by long-term English learners. A major goal of this program is that students will be prepared for high school AVID and other college preparatory courses.  An overview of the pilot program in California, the data for the first two cohorts, and next steps for ELCR will be shared for discussion.

Michelle & Larry will be sharing the research conducted by CREATE (Center for Research, Evaluation, and Training in Education) of the first two cohorts in the pilot.

Audience: 1-9

Latina Attributes of Success: Following the Legacy of High School AVID to College

Presenter:  Gail Bruce, Director of Counseling, Skagit Valley College, WA

Description: When AVID high school graduates enter college their AVID support system ends.  Gaining a better understanding of the perceived attributes of success as seen through the eyes of Latina college students, this study provides a better understanding of how post-secondary systems can reduce barriers and improve educational opportunities for Latinas.

Audience: 3-8


Leadership for College Readiness

The Role of the Superintendent and Central Office Leaders in Promoting College Access and Success

Presenter:  Monte Moses, Education Consultant/Retired Superintendent of the Cherry Creek School District, CO

Description: A theory of action for superintendents and central office leaders to use in promoting college access and success will be outlined through an interactive power point presentation. Ten key steps will be examined that deliver the leverage needed to strengthen school cultures, and more fully engage students, staff, and parents in college readiness activities.  Practical suggestions and actions will be described that can overcome the obstacles and barriers that inhibit college readiness.  Special attention will be given to the leadership behaviors required from superintendents, and ways to build productive relationships with school principals that result in more students being prepared to enter and succeed in college. 

Audience: 1-4

From Invention to Reform: The Evolution of AVID in California's Public Schools

Presenter:  Joseph Radding, Education Programs Consultant, California Department of Education

Description: This session will provide a brief summary of the findings of a recent doctoral dissertation study on the evolution of AVID in California's public schools. Participants will learn: (1) how AVID has evolved in California from a single-classroom invention to a statewide school reform; (2) why AVID has not reached its potential scale in California's public schools; and (3) how a partnership involving the state, local educational agencies, and a nonprofit organization can be effective in promoting college readiness and closing the achievement gap.

Audience: 1-4

Improving AP Success: Lessons Learned Through College by Design

Presenters:  Gary Kroesch, Teacher and AVID Staff Developer, Rancho Bernardo High School, CA; Faatimah Muhammad, High School Science Coordinator and AVID Staff Developer, DeKalb County School System District, GA

Description: Results and "lessons learned" will be shared from a three year grant aimed at increasing AP success at three pairs of Middle and high schools across the nation: Worchester, MA;  Isleta, TX;  Colton, CA.  This session will display the multi faceted approach to align and improve AP access and success through addressing District and school site leadership and cultures, AVID and AP program cooperation, and specific classroom best practices.  Analysis of the grant's data, district and school site structures and cultures and conscious expectations will illustrate important lessons and successful approaches to increasing AP success for all students.

Audience: 1-5

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Postsecondary Recruitment, Retention & Completion

An Introduction to Student Retention

Presenter:  Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President and CEO, Educational Policy Institute

Description: This workshop will introduce participants to important concepts related to improving student retention on college and university campuses. The session will outline a retention framework and discuss issues related to defining retention on campus, data usage, student tracking systems, institutional planning, campus buy-in, and proven practices. This workshop is aimed at postsecondary practitioners and administrators.

Audience: 1-4, 9

AVID Postsecondary Overview

Presenters:  Eileen Friou, National Director of Postsecondary Programs, AVID Center; Marlene Grueber, National Director of Special Projects, AVID Center

Description: AVID Postsecondary is a new initiative that works with institutions of higher education with the goal of increasing college student persistence and completion rates by improving student learning. Participants will examine this systemic initiative and how it structures support for students, who are not yet prepared to succeed academically, by:

  • providing a year-long academic training program to develop college success skills needed for persistence and degree completion,
  • reducing barriers that traditionally limit levels of educational achievement, and
  • facilitating professional development for institution site teams, using student success pedagogy applicable to various disciplines and student services.

Audience: 1-5, 9

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board AVID Postsecondary Project 

Presenter:  Evelyn Hiatt, Deputy Associate Commissioner, TX Higher Education Coordinating Board

Description: This presentation will focus on the collaboration involving the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the AVID Center, and postsecondary institutions in Texas.  Participants will learn about the development of a four-year postsecondary experience designed to improve the persistence to degree completion for underprepared students.  Presenters will share details of the project implementation and preliminary results from a pilot at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

Audience: 1-5

Concept for a UNCF-AVID Alliance for a Pipeline Program

Presenters: Dr. Sylvia Carey Butler, Director, UNCF Enrollment Management Program; Dr. Clarissa Myrick Harris, Director, UNCF Curriculum and Faculty Enhancement Program; Dr. Barbara Smith, Vice President, Government Relations and Equity, AVID Center

This presentation describes the proposed alliance between UNCF and AVID to establish a pipeline program for Black and Latino AVID high school graduates to prepare them to earn their bachelor's degrees at UNCF private historically black colleges and universities. Consistent with President Obama's goal to dramatically increase the number of U.S. college graduates by 2020, the proposed collaboration will help AVID fulfill its mission as a gateway to four-year higher education for its graduates. Conversely, the pipeline program will help UNCF attract a diverse mix of high school graduates prepared to commence their college education and obtain their bachelor's degrees in a timely manner.

Audience: 1-5, 9

Site and District Leadership

Quality AVID Implementation Schoolwide and Districtwide to Improve Student Achievement

Presenters: Wendy Cooley, AVID Instructional Systems Specialist, DoDEA Europe; Jonathan Petrick, AVID Elective Teacher, Ramstein Middle School, DoDEA Europe

Description: The session will focus on improving AVID quality schoolwide and district wide by using a systemic approach: the infusion of data into AVID program management, building capacity through effective professional development, and fidelity to AVID's certification essentials and the implementation of an electronic certification portfolio. Results of student achievement will be presented in the areas of increased AP enrollment, acceptance into 4 year universities, GPAs, college entrance exams, and AVID certification results. Schoolwide effects include the development of a schoolwide study skills course based on The AVID Student Success Path and the comprehensive components of college readiness. To develop sustainability, teacher leaders present schoolwide integration of AVID's research based instructional methodologies to district leadership teams and schools throughout their district.

Audience: 3-8

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)

Individual Mini-Laptop Program Provides Rigor and Relevance for AVID Students

Presenters: Jessica Gieryn, AVID Elective Teacher/Coordinator and At Risk Coordinator, Silverbrook Middle School, West Bend School District, WI; Jason Levash, Director of Virtual and Career and Technical Education Programs, West Bend School District, WI

Description: The West Bend School District mini-laptop program enhances our AVID program.  To incorporate STEM initiatives at school and home, each AVID student is assigned a mini-laptop.  The program accelerates AVID students' academic performance across socio-economic lines.  It closes that achievement gap between those who have technology and those who do not.  Mini-laptops are used for research projects, AVID tutorials, Cornell notetaking and much more.  Utilization provides access to relevant technology skills.  AVID and the mini-laptop program give our middle school a greater opportunity to prepare students for their future, increase rigor, provide relevance and help kids learn.

Audience: 3-8

AVID Math and Science Summer Programs

Presenters:  Kathy Arno, Project Manager, MSDF Grant, AVID Center; Brandi Gandy, AVID Coordinator, Pflugerville Middle School, Pflugerville ISD, TX

Description: Students in the United States are enrolling in and being successful in advanced math and science courses in too few numbers.  Factors such as curriculum tracks, district/campus emphasis on these courses, as well as student perceptions about math and science play major roles in enrollment figures.  Through grant funding, AVID is developing summer bridge programs to promote scientific and mathematical thinking and problem solving, increase enjoyment of math and science, and to prepare middle school students for acceleration into advanced/honors classes.  The highly interactive, engaging bridge programs, piloted in 2009 and 2010, are generating student interest in math and science and yielding solid results.

Audience: 3-8

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Successful Integration of AVID Initiatives

Student Advocacy: Moving from Helpless to Hopeful

Presenters:  Rachel Henley, AVID District Coordinator, Ysleta ISD, TX; Collette Davis, AVID Instructional Specialist, Ysleta ISD, TX

Description: In one of the largest border communities in the world, students In EI Paso, Texas face unique, often overwhelming, challenges. Authentic student advocacy emphasizing academic resilience, self worth and college readiness can be pivotal in helping students learn how to face the future capably and confidently. Explore the model Ysleta ISO educators have used to intertwine AVID with other advocacy systems such as Communities in Schools, GEAR UP, Upward Bound, LULAC and the Advanced Placement Incentive Program. Gain insight for student advocacy as we discuss obstacles faced, lessons learned, keys for success and the continuing evolution of serving our youth.

Audience: 1-8

AVID and Disadvantaged Gifted Students

Presenter:  Shannon Kay Sankstone, Graduate Student, MA in Gifted Education, Northeastern Illinois University

Description: This presentation will provide the audience with research-based best practices in serving the disadvantaged and at-risk gifted student. The presenter will detail the unique needs and characteristics of disadvantaged and at-risk gifted students, how their needs are, and are not, served by current programs. A case study of one school district's AVID program will be discussed. The presenter will list best practices in modifying programs and curriculum for this special population.

Audience: 4-8

AVID: A Strong Catalyst for District and School Improvement

Presenters: David Anderson, Principal, Mount Vernon High School, WA; David Scott, Federal Programs Director, Mount Vernon School District #320, WA

Description: In 2007 Mount Vernon High School joined an illustrious group of high schools throughout the nation as it was recognized as an AVID Demonstration Site. In order to attain this status, a system of support from the district level to the classroom level was needed. The presentation will describe this system of support by delineating the roles of district administration, school level administration, and the AVID site team within this system. Longitudinal student performance data from both the AVID program and school program at large will also be presented. The data demonstrates that the AVID program has served as a strong catalyst for school improvement at MVHS. Districts in attendance will be encouraged to consider AVID as a crucial ingredient in their school improvement efforts.

Audience: 1-9

Beyond the Money: Effective AVID Community Partnerships (2.5 hours)

Presenters:  Sharon E. Leary, AVID District Director Worcester Public Schools, MA; Linda M. McGowan, Director Corporate Relations (and President of Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, Inc)

Description: Hanover Insurance Group and the Worcester Public Schools from Worcester, Massachusetts will share successful approaches to leveraging a variety of resources through community partnerships to support and sustain district-wide AVID Programs. Participants will engage in a needs assessment and develop an outline of an action plan to affect successful community partnerships for their AVID Program.

Topics to be discussed include:

  • What defines effective partnerships
  • Partners that go beyond monetary support to identify program needs
  • How to identify community resources to support AVID Essentials
  • The use of community partners to build a sustainable supply of college tutors

Audience: 1-8


Support and Strategies for Low-income and Underserved Students

Empower student Achievement through Student Support Teams

Presenters:  Lori Nunez, Ed.D. Principal, Alvarado Elementary North, TX; Sheri Campbell, At-risk Coordinator, Alvarado Elementary North, TX; Jan Beskow, Diagnostician, Alvarado Elementary North, TX; Laura Estes—Director of Special Programs, Alvarado ISD, TX

Description: Acceptable to "Exemplary"—this presentation will explain how to create an effective student support system that aligns to the Response to Intervention (RTL) model.  This presentation will help educators understand, develop and implement a student support team (SST) that will assist at-risk students meet academic achievement standards through early identification.  Learn how this team assists students, parents, and teachers in developing solutions, academic support, and tiers of interventions to meet the need of at-risk students.

Audience: 4-8

What are we schooling them for? Activities to promote higher career aspirations among our youth of color

Presenter:  Edward A. Mainzer, Ed.D., LMHC, School and College Counselor, Arts and Technology High School, NYC DOE

Description: We need to talk about careers—not just jobs, but occupational clusters to which our students should aspire! AVID graduates have an outstanding track record of successfully applying to and getting into college at rates that far outstrip their peers, especially among Black and Hispanic youth, but what are we schooling them for? Nationally, Blacks and Hispanics, and especially young men of color, are far less likely to become managers and professionals. This workshop reviews national data and provides sample career education lessons particularly targeted at youth who come from families and communities lacking in professional role models.

Audience: 4-8

Creating Cultural Proficiency in Your AVID Program

Presenters: Dr. Laurie Wiebold, AVID Director, Los Angeles County Office of Education, CA; Carmen Serret-Lopez, AVID Regional Coordinator, Los Angeles County Office of Education, CA

Description: This training will help AVID leaders use Cultural Proficiency as a framework to examine and improve their classroom and site policies and practices. We will start by reviewing Cultural Proficiency and why it is important. We will examine tools to help sites examine equity gaps so leaders can create dialogue about cultural proficiency. Participants will receive an AVID Cultural Proficiency Continuum, a recruitment packet created with a Cultural proficiency lens, and classroom resources. This session is recommended for experienced AVID programs.

Audience: 1-9