Plano ISD’s AVID Program Reaches Significant Milestone as June Graduations Approach

February 4, 2010

2010 is a milestone year for Plano ISD’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program. Launched in September 2006, this college readiness program will graduate its first class of seniors this year. At a recent Plano ISD school principal’s meeting, three AVID seniors shared their personal stories of how the program has enhanced their lives. View the video of their testimonials

Yareli Vazquez of Plano Senior High School said that because of AVID, she knows that some day she would like to be a teacher. “I walked into my freshman year of high school with no plans of how to get to college. All that I knew was that I was going,” said Vazquez. “That changed when I walked into AVID. I made ties with my classmates that I never thought possible. Together we learned and grew; together we faced adversity; and together we faced and are still facing our future. The most important thing I’ve learned in AVID is how to dream.” Vazquez added that she has been accepted to two universities and has had scholarship offers from others.

Gustavo Martinez of Plano East Senior High School has experienced more than his share of personal hardships. Despite moving to the United States in 2001 with hardly any knowledge of the English language and despite many other extremely difficult family circumstances, Martinez moved quickly from English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes, and he credits AVID for his continued academic success. “I was granted the opportunity to be in AVID in the ninth grade. Recent changes, obstacles and problems in my life had been tremendous and I was disoriented. AVID came along and showed me the way to my dreams and goals,” said Martinez. “AVID opened the doors for me to be able to achieve and earn academic honors, awards and opportunities…including my 3.75 GPA.”

“If someone were to ask me what my life would be without AVID, I would tell them that I couldn’t even imagine it,” said Ashley Garner of Plano West Senior High School who is planning for a career in the communications field. “My life as I know it has been attributed to what I have learned through this program. I have been with the program during the most crucial moments of my high school career, and because of this, I have had many, many advantages. As a part of the first generation of AVID students at Plano West, this journey has both shaped me and guided me toward greater things in my future. As I hear my peers express their confusion about their college journey, I can calmly say that I have everything under control.”

With graduation just months away for the first Plano ISD AVID seniors, the program has a lot to celebrate. During the 2008-09 school year, AVID served students from sixteen secondary campuses including 533 middle school students and 364 high school students. Of these, 459 middle school students took at least one honors course and 277 high school students took at least one pre-AP course.

Students also participated in service projects including a creek cleanup at Hoblitzelle Park; a recycling project in which tons of paper from around the city was shredded; volunteering at an assisted living center for senior citizens with Alzheimer’s disease; and partnering with Plano PALs (Peer Assistance and Leadership) at Plano’s Douglass Community Center.

Funding for the AVID program comes, in part, from the Plano ISD Education Foundation, with support from Wachovia Foundation, EDS Credit Union, Viewpoint Bank and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

About AVID

AVID is a system to prepare students in the academic middle for four-year college eligibility. It has a proven track record in bringing out the best in students, and in closing the achievement gap. AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is at work in nearly 4,500 schools in 45 states as well as the District of Columbia and 16 countries/territories. Plano ISD established its AVID program in September 2006. AVID students have the potential and desire to complete a rigorous curriculum, but may never have had the opportunity to participate or succeed in honors classes. AVID helps students learn organizational skills and good study habits, as well as how to incorporate critical thinking and higher level reading strategies into their studies. The program provides a foundation for students to attend college and become better leaders and responsible citizens.

About The Plano ISD Education Foundation

The Plano ISD Education Foundation is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization with the mission to generate private support for priority projects identified by Plano ISD not funded by tax dollars. The Foundation provides grants to educators, programs that support academic enrichment to Plano ISD students, emergency assistance for teachers and staff members in crisis, as well as programs aimed at recruiting and retaining quality teachers. To learn more about the Plano ISD Education Foundation or to make a donation, contact Executive Director Monica Shortino at 469-752-8091.

About Plano Independent School District

The Plano Independent School District (Plano ISD) endeavors to foster the highest level of student learning. The mission of Plano ISD is to provide an excellent education for all students. Plano ISD is located 20 miles north of Dallas, Texas and serves the residents of approximately 100 square miles in southwest Collin County, including 66 square miles in the city of Plano, northern portions of the cities of Dallas and Richardson and parts of the cities of Allen, Parker and Murphy. Plano ISD employs 7,000 faculty and staff members who serve more than 55,000 students in 70 schools and 11 service facilities. Participating in Plano ISD schools enables students to adapt to new learning opportunities throughout their lives, collaborate with, and contribute to, the global community and to be creative and disciplined in their thinking.