By Eric Stevick
Herald Writer
MILL CREEK — It was mostly a fact-finding mission for a school that is exploring ways to offer more rigorous courses.
Four teachers from outside the Everett School District explained the virtues and challenges of college-level advanced placement courses and the international baccalaureate program to parents, teachers and students from Jackson High School and Heatherwood Middle School.
For the Jackson High PTSA, Thursday night was a chance to hear about programs not offered on their Mill Creek campus, which does, however, provide some University of Washington classes.
Some students also enroll in community college courses through the state’s Running Start program.
Advanced placement classes cover college-level material in high school and allow students to earn college credit if they pass a national exam.
International baccalaureate, which is available at Edmonds Woodway High School, is a challenging academic program that uses world-class standards and integrated approaches to studying different disciplines. It also allows students to earn college credits if they pass exams or advanced placement to many universities.
For Bill Bond, a chemistry teacher at Snohomish High School, the beauty of teaching advanced placement courses is the relationship it fosters with students. Bond said he sees his role as a coach preparing students for a difficult exam, not as an obstacle to students getting As on their transcript.
It is more time-consuming, but as a teacher he gets to work in his favorite subject at a higher level with motivated students.
"It’s one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my life," Bond said.
International baccalaureate would take longer to establish but also has many benefits, said Carol Lee, a French teacher and coordinator of the program at Thomas Jefferson High School in Auburn.
The program began in 1968 for high school students and is considered a demanding pre-university course of study. It has since expanded to include some primary and middle schools.
Beyond the academic emphasis, which includes an essay requiring college-level independent research and writing skills, is a push to have students involved in creative, athletic or community service pursuits, Lee said.
For instance, 26 schools from the Pacific Northwest are raising $23,000 to clear a mine field in Cambodia, Lee said
The Everett School District is beginning to study expanding high-level academic options at Jackson and the district’s three other high schools.
As increasing numbers of students are able to meet academic standards on statewide exams by the 10th grade, the district needs to have more challenging courses available for the final two years, said Lynn Evans, an assistant superintendent in the Everett district.
It will take a significant investment in staff training, she said.
Jeff Heckathorn, a parent who brought in the speakers for the Jackson High PTSA meeting, is hopeful it will spark more interest and commitment in adding new classes. The feedback has been encouraging, he said.
"People are coming up and saying, this is what we want," he said.
More information is available on the Internet at jhsptsa.org.
You can call Herald Writer Eric Stevick at 425-339-3446 or send e-mail to stevick@heraldnet.com.
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