Harvard Community Unit School District 50 issued the following announcement on Aug. 22.
Committed to improving student achievement throughout the district, Harvard Community Unit School District 50 is bringing AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) to all schools. In existence for over 30 years, the non-profit organization is a proven system that increases student success and graduation rates. Last year AVID was incorporated into Harvard Junior High and Harvard High School. For the 2018-2019 school year, AVID will expand to a full K-12 program with Jefferson and Crosby Elementary. Pre-K Washington School staff are also working to employ AVID strategies in their building.
As part of the initiative, Maura Bridges, former Co-Principal of Harvard Junior High, has been named the Director of College & Career Readiness for District 50. In the half-time position, Bridges will oversee AVID throughout the district. Before working in Harvard, Bridges supported AVID in West Chicago Community High School District 94. She explained, “AVID encourages students to be future-focused, ensures they develop life skills, and prepares them for success after high school.”
The system focuses students on growing writing, critical thinking, teamwork, organization and reading skills. It also provides comprehensive training for teachers to utilize effective strategies in their lessons and collaborate as teams. Bridges said that the training “provides tools teachers can immediately implement to help students in the classroom, and the site teams allow teachers to work cohesively in their schools.”
With Bridges supporting AVID in the district, early elementary students can develop proven, successful learning habits that create a lasting positive effect on their academic careers and beyond.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Harvard Community Unit School District 50
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