AVID – Advancement Via Individual Determination – is a college readiness program that requires students to take ownership of their academics and futures. As of this year, every school site in SJUSD is an AVID campus. North Mountain Middle School is now the second in the district to receive the classification of “Site of Distinction.” Monte Vista Middle School was recognized with this honor in 2015-16, and again for 2016-17.
North Mountain Middle School’s Principal Dr. Karen Kirschinger said she is thrilled to have her school site recognized. “It is due to the hard work of my entire staff to ensure each of our students are exposed to AVID strategies, by AVID trained teachers,” noted Dr. Kirschinger. “By the end of this month, 100% of our teachers will have attended AVID Path Trainings,” she continued, “and it is always an honor to have the opportunities to grow professionally so we can better support students and offer more choices to thrive.”
AVID Coordinator at North Mountain Middle School, Valerie Williams-Brown, also acknowledged that all the site’s teachers supported this achievement. “I am grateful to our administration and teachers for their dedication to the AVID program and to the success of each of our students,” declared Mrs. Williams-Brown.
“Adopting the AVID strategies has made a big impact on numerous San Jacinto Unified students, and we are very excited to have all our schools be a part of this program that is designed to influence the leadership, systems, instruction and culture of schools for high expectations and levels of achievement,” said SJUSD Superintendent Diane Perez. “SJUSD believes ‘all students should be college and career ready,’ and adopting AVID districtwide is one of our primary strategies to achieve this goal,” noted Superintendent Perez.