Teachers from Eaton-Johnson and Henderson middle schools are shown working during an AVID training session on June 1.
Local educators in middle schools have been training and preparing during the past school year to bring a special program to their students for the 2016-2017 year.
In the new school year, educators at Eaton-Johnson and Henderson middle schools will offer services to their students through the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program.
AVID has been in local schools in previous years when it was offered several years ago at the high school level. School system officials made the decision several months ago to bring AVID back to local students at the middle school level.
The program trains educators to use proven strategies to better develop their students’ critical thinking, literacy and math skills across all subject areas. AVID is designed to close the achievement gap and help students be successful at the high school and college levels, as well as in their future careers. In addition to teaching skills and behaviors for academic success, AVID provides intensive support with tutorials and strong student/teacher relationships. It also creates a positive peer group for students and develops a sense of hope for personal achievement gained through hard work and determination.
Teachers from Eaton-Johnson and Henderson middle schools most recently attended an AVID training session on June 1, in the board room of the school system’s Administrative Services Center. The approximately 20 teachers were joined by middle school administrators and district officials as they were directed by an AVID facilitator through teaching strategies and procedures. The educators held lots of discussions about the strategies and how to help their students become more successful.