Summer programs are in full swing in CFBISD. At Ted Polk Middle School, AVID students are learning and growing in their own summer program. 

Advancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID, is a college readiness system designed to increase learning and performance in students beginning in elementary school. The mission of AVID is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society. Ted Polk Middle School is not only an AVID campus, but has been an AVID National Demonstration School since 2018. One of only 210 demonstration schools in the United States and 49 in Texas who have received this honor. 

Polk’s AVID summer program, implemented by principal Kelly O’Sullivan, currently has about 36 students participating in three small group rotations. Their focus during small groups is to understand and analyze AVID strategies such as focused note-taking, organization, writing, reading, inquiry, and collaboration. 

Bianca Chapman, U.S. History teacher and Social Studies department head at Polk, is also a former AVID student. “AVID is more than just a college prep program. AVID disrupts generational poverty and gives a voice to all students no matter what they look like or where they come from,” says Chapman. “AVID is a system that helps mold teachers into phenomenal educators and bridges the gap for all.”

Students participating in the program learn skills that will help them throughout their entire academic career. "AVID is helping me become a better person,” said Lynn Blue, a Polk seventh grader, “and giving me an understanding to always strive to improve.” Sixth grader, Lizandro Dominguez added, "The AVID small group has been helping me improve getting better at note-taking and also has helped me in being organized.”

Polk Middle School’s AVID small group summer program benefits students by providing them with one-on-one help. “Our small groups are becoming more and more like little families,” said Chapman. “Our teachers, no matter the content area, incorporate AVID strategies daily. Our AVID summer program working with small groups will continue to help our Panthers lead the way now and post high school.”