With perspective from Ashley Linhart, Waukesha North High School (WI), and Dale Hemker, Danville High School (IL)  

When AVID first arrived at Waukesha North High School in Wisconsin, the physical education department had doubts. They felt that students in their classes should be moving instead of writing. Across the Midwest, Dale Hemker at Danville High School in Illinois shared the same skepticism. How could AVID fit into a gym full of physically active students?

The Challenge 

Ashley Linhart, AVID 12 Elective and Health/PE teacher at Waukesha North, remembers those early days vividly. “Our PE teachers really had two thoughts,” she says. “One, AVID was ‘another thing’ they were making us do. Two, ‘taking notes isn’t for PE.’ They weren’t as willing to learn about what AVID truly is, which, of course, is more than focused notes.”

The resistance wasn’t unique to PE. Teachers of art, music, and other specialized subjects often asked, “How do you integrate AVID strategies into all classrooms without losing the essence of the content?”  

The Turning Point 

The answer came through purposeful professional development and modeling. Waukesha North’s administrative team didn’t just talk about AVID—they lived it. “During staff meetings and PD, our administrators constantly use AVID and WICOR^® strategies,” Ashley explains. “We almost always have an opener like a quickwrite, pair up with Sole Mates, take focused notes, and wrap up with an exit ticket. When they use strategies, they always say, ‘This is called ______, and here’s how you could use it in your classroom.’  ”

That intentional modeling made AVID feel authentic. Teachers began to see that AVID wasn’t “just another thing.”

“Thinking about what we want students to learn and how they can learn it efficiently changes everything,” Ashley says. “It increases engagement and elevates learning.”

Peer-to-Peer Learning in Action

In the spring of 2025, Dale Hemker visited Waukesha North during an AVID Showcase. What he saw changed everything. “Observing PE wasn’t on the agenda,” Dale recalls, “but when I asked to check it out, admin didn’t hesitate. Seeing the PE setup on the spur of the moment, you knew this wasn’t just for the day—it was something they regularly apply.”

The scene was simple but powerful: portable whiteboards displaying Essential Questions and fitness goals, students collaborating and reflecting on their progress. “It was a perfect demo of how to bring purposeful instruction into PE,” Dale says. “I knew AVID could be utilized in PE but seeing it in action shifted my perspective.”  

The Ripple Effect

Back at Danville High, Dale introduced portable whiteboards and began weaving AVID strategies into PE routines. Students started tracking mile times, setting goals, and discussing the “why” behind workouts. “If we can foster knowledge about the purpose of being active and help students understand how each activity benefits them,” Dale explains, “they’ll be more conscious of why physical education is so important now and throughout their life .” 

Meanwhile, Waukesha North continued refining professional development, ensuring that every teacher could see how AVID strategies fit into their classrooms. The results speak for themselves: Waukesha North is now an AVID National Demonstration School.

Why It Works

Peer-to-peer learning through Showcases is powerful because it moves theory into practice. “It’s way easier to understand something when you see it in action versus something written down,” Ashley says. “Seeing things like the Essential Question and agenda written on the board in a non-traditional classroom seems simple, but it’s transformative.”

Dale agrees, “Teachers need to be shown how AVID is successfully being used, then they’ll be more apt to try it in their own setting. It may not look the same everywhere, but it can be done.” 

Bringing AVID Strategies to Every Classroom

If you’re wondering how AVID  can support teachers and students in all classrooms, you can start small:

• Model strategies during professional development. Showcase success stories.
• Connect teachers across schools.
• Begin with simple strategies like the AVID Focused Note-Taking Process or Gallery Tours, and adapt them to your class or content area.

As Ashley advises, “Educate yourself and your staff about AVID before jumping in fully. Start small, and don’t forget about the electives.”

Because when teachers believe AVID is possible, even in a gym, students thrive. And that’s the ultimate goal.