John Glenn Middle School in National Spotlight

John Glenn Middle School of International Studies Receives National Recognition for High Performance

INDIO —John Glenn Middle School of International Studies has been selected as a National Demonstration School by AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a nonprofit organization that provides educators with proven, real-world strategies to accelerate the performance of underrepresented students so that these students and all students across the entire campus succeed in college, careers, and life.

John Glenn Middle School will join a small network of approximately 200 other AVID National Demonstration Schools and was selected through an intensive application process, screening, and review, which included a site validation visit.  On April 25, at 2:30 p.m., members from AVID Center and AVID Riverside County (ARC) will present John Glenn an AVID NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL BANNER at a celebratory ceremony in front of staff, all AVID Elective students, and administrators.

Desert Sands Unified AVID District Director, Kari Lynn Penny, Ed.D., said, “We are so proud of our AVID district wide implementation and John Glenn’s ongoing pursuit for excellence and equity, both in the AVID Elective and AVID Schoolwide. We appreciate their achievement to now serve as a center for teaching and learning and exemplifying AVID’s mission of closing the opportunity gap for all students.”

AVID is implemented in more than 8,000 schools in 49 states across the U.S., plus schools in the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), Canada, and Australia, impacting more than 2 million students in grades PreK–12 and postsecondary institutions.

AVID Chief Executive Officer Thuan Nguyen notes the significance of attaining Demonstration Site recognition. “Schools recognized as National Demonstration Sites have proven their ability to successfully implement the AVID Elective course and take the strategies schoolwide to impact all students,” says Nguyen. “John Glenn Middle School of International Studies was selected as an AVID National Demonstration School because it has implemented the AVID system throughout the school and can serve as a model for new AVID sites.”

The recognition of being an AVID National Demonstration School was established in 1993 with a $250,000 award from the Charles A. Dana Foundation of New York. As part of the AVID Demonstration Sites Network, sites are expected to develop a model program with schoolwide participation. With AVID’s proven methodologies used throughout subject-area classes, performance levels improve for all students, but especially for those students who are the least likely to attend four-year colleges. Schools from around the world that are preparing to implement the AVID system will visit Demonstration Schools, such as this one, to observe a highly evolved AVID system.

Todd Biggert, John Glenn’s principal, is pleased the school is receiving recognition as an AVID National Demonstration School, noting the impact of the program on staff and students. “It is a tremendous honor to be selected as a National Demo Site, and we are proud of our AVID program and our school as a whole,” said Todd Biggert. “The use of AVID strategies schoolwide has positively impacted students and staff, and we continue to see a college-ready student body.”