About 40 visitors got a look at the Advancement Via Individual Determination program at Odessa High School Tuesday during its AVID Showcase.
AVID students, including cheerleaders, hosted the event and welcomed people to the OHS Performing Arts Center. The event included the story of OHS’ AVID journey and how they became a national demonstration school, school tours so visitors could see the program in action, and teacher and student panels where audience members could ask questions, AVID District Director Amy Anderson said.
There were representatives from Hobbs, N.M., Roscoe, Van Horn, and Andrews to name a few.
Every ECISD campus has AVID. They implement it in fourth and fifth grade and there are about seven campuses that have it school wide. Every middle and high school has an AVID elective, Anderson said.
There are a little more than 2,000 middle and high school students in the program and about 5,000 elementary students. AVID teaches students to prepare for college with notetaking, organization and time management skills, among other things.
Speakers included OHS AVID Coordinator Naomi Fuentes and Principal Anthony Garcia.
The AVID celebration will be at 6:30 p.m. April 18 at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center.
“ECISD is the largest district with the most AVID emphasis within our region. Even Midland only has one school that implements AVID,” Anderson said. “… Pecos just started AVID and they also came. They just came for a learning visit about a month ago and they’re back again for the showcase.”
Anderson said OHS revalidated its national demonstration school status last year.
“That’s major because we had to do it in a virtual setting and so not very many were able to do that, but Odessa High was one of those that was. Not every school that has AVID is a national demonstration school. It’s something that you have to work very hard at,” Anderson said.
She added that they have great systems in place to sustain the program.
Ravi Shakamuri and Mike Mills, executive directors of the ACCESS program, were on hand. ACCESS leverages technology and delivers quantifiable results in strengthening student outcomes with a focus on college, career and military readiness and state higher education goals.
Shakamuri said AVID is a good way to prepare students for college. In college, students will be independent and have to decide what classes to take.
Mills said he was “super impressed” with the students that welcomed them.
“I had a young man who took me under his wing and communicated exceptionally well. It’s great to see that and he’s a senior, but that’s a lot of development to have (those) social skills and I know he learned that by being in AVID, so that was refreshing to see,” Mills said.
“ACCESS is a huge part of AVID, so we’re glad to be here and see what’s happening as we get so involved on the platform side. It’s great to connect with students and teachers and been the campus. …,” Mills added.
