Real life comes to the classroom with AVID

Published 8:00 am Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a concept that has now become a way of life.

Introduced to Leeds City Schools in 2006, AVID’s mission is “to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society.”

Focusing on individuals with academic potential, current AVID students say this program helps them excel in the classroom.

Learning interpersonal skills such as getting along with people, working in groups and feeling comfortable asking questions like, “why,” these students are not only challenging themselves they’re also encouraging their classmates to take their education to the next level.

“AVID has expanded my mind a lot,” said Demonesha Collier. “It’s taught me how this will affect my career. It makes me think about how I present myself and how I need to live to become successful.”

Attending the Art Institute of Atlanta in the fall, Collier says she feels project based learning curriculum such as AVID has helped her develop diversity.

Izzy Smith, a junior at Leeds High School (LHS), says AVID allows well rounded students to emerge.

“AVID prepares us for life in general,” said Smith.

Jeff Thomas, LHS’ eleventh grade English teacher serves as one of the AVID advocators and teachers.

“We want these students to want to be here,” said Thomas. “AVID provides them with a support system.”

 

Whether discussing controversial topics such as sex, religion or politics this is a time where students reflect on diversity and emphasize mental achievement.

“Teenagers today are more mature than adults think we are,” said Ike Sims. “We’re advancing more and are more trustworthy.”

Interacting with these students on a daily basis Thomas sees this maturity.

“Everything’s an academic conversation,” said Thomas. “There’s an intensity to the talks where you can see their mental prowess is growing.”

Addressing any red flags parents may have about their children chatting about mature topics, Laney Martinez says the conversations focus on responsibility and abstinence.

“We have interactive minds where we’re able to process a broad mentality of things,” Sims added.

Tre Gray said, “The exercise of debating helps us as far as communicating with other people in and out of the classroom and for our futures.”

Reciting a favorite Mark Twain quote (also seen on a poster in Thomas’ classroom), several students said, “Never let formal education get in the way of your learning.”

“To me that quote means having the freedom to make us want to learn,” said Sims.

Recently the AVID students visited AUM (Auburn University at Montgomery) as well as the state capitol, affording these students the opportunity to witness life on a college campus.

“I believe the students who have participated in AVID have received the assistance emotionally and academically to become career and college ready,” said Dr. Kathy King, Director of Auxiliary Services for Leeds City Schools. “Many students who would not have even considered college have gone on to college and/or are currently attending college. This program also gives teachers the tools necessary to teach in such a way that the needs of all

students are met.”

AVID also offers these classmates the chance to meet mentors and unlock their potential by inquiring so they are able to ask the best questions in order to provoke the most thought.

Working their way through other topics such as philosophy and human behavior this group has opened up worlds of opportunities for themselves and plan on making good on their mission of being successful.